Venezuela has begun burying victims of devastating twin earthquakes that killed more than 1,700 people, even as international rescue and aid operations continue in the hardest-hit regions.
The United States military has reopened and restored operations at the Port of La Guaira, a key seaport in the disaster zone, enabling the delivery of emergency relief supplies as recovery efforts intensify across the country.
Authorities say about 1,700 people have been confirmed dead, while around 5,000 are injured, with thousands more still missing following the earthquakes that struck the country days earlier.
At the port area, hundreds of unidentified bodies have reportedly been stored in temporary facilities as forensic teams work to identify victims, while grieving families continue to wait for news of loved ones.
International assistance has expanded, with multiple countries deploying search-and-rescue teams and personnel to support overwhelmed local responders, as hopes of finding survivors diminish with each passing day.
Despite the scale of destruction, isolated rescues continue, including reports of a 21-year-old man pulled alive from rubble days after the quakes.
The United Nations estimated that millions of people may be affected by the disaster, as the country also grapples with severe infrastructure damage and economic losses running into billions of dollars.
Authorities have militarised parts of the disaster zone to control access, while public frustration grows over the pace of government response and relief distribution.
Burial and cremation services are reportedly operating at full capacity in Caracas as families continue mourning loved ones lost in one of the country’s worst natural disasters in recent years.
