Aftershock hits Caracas at a critical time for the rescue operation in Venezuela | Stories About Earthquakes

Thousands of people are still missing after the earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week.

A powerful earthquake has hit Venezuela following last week’s devastating earthquakes, as rescue teams race to find survivors and time is running out.

The United States Geological Survey said Monday’s 4.6-magnitude earthquake was at a depth of 10 km (6 miles) with an epicenter north of Caraballeda on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.

Jorge Rodriguez, head of the Venezuelan Parliament, said there were no reports of further damage.

“We’re back, we’re back on the streets. I don’t know when we’ll have real peace,” Concepcion Hernandez, 51, told AP, as she evacuated her home in the Chacao municipality of Caracas after the latest earthquake.

National and international rescue operations have been carried out race against time and focus on the northern port of La Guaira, an area most affected by the country’s long-standing political and economic crisis.

The back-to-back 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck northwestern Venezuela last Wednesday are nearing their end. 1,500 people confirmed their deaths and hundreds of buildings collapsed, and tens of thousands are still believed to be missing. The search for survivors includes 30,000 Venezuelan rescuers and 2,700 foreign experts.

A critical 72-hour window to rescue people trapped after the natural disaster Saturday evening. However, a few saviors on Sunday offered hope. Survival can be increased if people have access to food and water.

“Today we have healed people alive, so work is not stopped. We always remain hopeful,” interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday.

Venezuelan officials say they have received help from 24 countries, which have sent more than 500 tonnes, 2,700 rescuers and aid workers and about 86 teams with search dogs.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele told the story of the rescue of 21-year-old Aaron Levi from a collapsed house in La Guaira, writing on X: “This rescue was made possible by the efforts of rescue teams from Venezuela, Mexico, and El Salvador.”

Venezuela’s president said he spent 106 hours buried under rubble.

Reports from Catia La Mar in La Guaira, Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo he said On Sunday, family members documented several collapsed buildings as they were unable to carry the bodies of their loved ones.

“Relatives are waiting outside for their bodies to be taken,” said Bo.

He said aid, including water and food, had only just begun to reach the hardest-hit areas, while many people continued to build outside.

Bo described the disaster as a big test for the countries and the new government of Rodriguez, who took over the presidency after the US military. take over President Nicolas Maduro in January.