This morning in La Guaira, Venezuela, rescuers faced a chilling silence over the wreckage left by Wednesday’s devastating earthquakes.
In the collapsed Mariola and Maribel Residences, a loud shout of "No one move!" was cut short when rescuers stopped, silenced the machines and leaned over piles of concrete, hoping to hear a survivor’s voice.
"We’ve found 33 survivors as of Saturday, but each hour keeps the hope thinner," said one of the teams, describing the tense pause as they kneel in the rubble, holding their breath.
Zuly Marín, a 66‑year‑old biologist, survived the quake by choosing to visit her father rather than return home. She now watches her niece and brother‑in‑law lie beneath the debris, lamenting the delayed rescue effort. "If authorities had reached us sooner many could have survived," she told BBC Mundo.
Ronnie Navarro travelled 350 km from Puerto La Cruz to La Guaira to help pull his uncle from the rubble, only to find that authorities "pass by…" and the uncle remains missing. He continues to shake the rubble, refusing to give up.
Belkys Valecillo watches heavy machinery operate on the main road and on adjacent buildings in the Caribe complex, fearing the destruction of the already collapsed structures. She says three families are still digging to recover their loved ones, with few bodies yet found.
As night falls, the traffic abruptly quiets again as rescuers hunt for hidden survivors, with nurses and volunteers rushing in. The reality of false alarms and intense waiting underlines the urgent need for coordinated rescue.
Meanwhile, international aid remains limited and citizens are left to fend for themselves as the aftermath of the disasters continues.
