A man and his teenage son were found alive under rubble in Venezuela on Sunday, nearly four days after twin earthquakes struck. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Rescuers discovered the father and his 16-year-old son in the town of Caraballeda, about 40 km north of the capital Caracas. French and American rescue teams assisted in the search.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez praised rescuers on Sunday for still pulling survivors from the ruins. "Today we have rescued people who are still alive, and therefore these efforts will not be suspended. We always hold on to hope," she said.
The rescue offered a glimmer of hope, but tens of thousands of people remain missing. The critical 72-hour window for rescuing trapped victims has passed.
Millions lack sanitation and basic needs. Rescue teams from the US, Mexico and other countries scrambled to save people as desperate residents dug by hand.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said 774 buildings were badly damaged. The death toll reached 1,450, with 3,150 injured. The toll is expected to rise.
Despite rescue efforts, looting hit La Guaira port city. Pharmacies, supermarkets and other businesses were ransacked. Residents complained of slow aid from authorities.
US helicopters ferried aid, and 230 more US military personnel are arriving to expand airport capacity and reopen a seaport. The US seized former President Nicolás Maduro in January.
A Salvadoran rescuer said: "At this point, they are probably dead bodies. Thanks to God maybe we can find people still alive."
Exasperation boiled over in some areas. "The country needs you. Put down your weapon," one man shouted to soldiers.
President Rodríguez thanked other countries for aid. 24 nations sent 521 tons of supplies, 86 units with dogs and over 2,700 search-and-rescue personnel.
The UN migration agency said up to 6.76 million people could be affected. Venezuela's worst earthquakes in over a century came after economic collapse.
The UN estimates $6.7 billion needed for repairs. Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado announced she would return "very soon."