Neighbors support the rescue operation after the earthquake in Venezuela reached 235 | Stories About Earthquakes

Rescue teams around the world have joined an urgent search for survivors in Venezuela, where people remain trapped by collapsed buildings. two devastating earthquakes on the third.

Countries from all over the Americas – including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Cuba and the United States – as well as the United Nations, continued on Friday to send. search and rescue teams and post-earthquake relief. Officials have raised their death toll to 235.

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“To the people of Venezuela, to those whose loved ones are in the ruins, know that we are determined that aid will reach you,” said the UN chief, Tom Fletcher.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century and were felt across the region.

As well as 235 people who are said to have died, 4,300 others have been injured, hospitals are “full of patients,” said Venezuela’s health minister Carlos Alvarado. Hundreds more are believed to exist trapped under the rubble.

‘We’ve lost everything’

Some of the worst damage is in on the shores of La Guairanorth of the capital, Caracas.

More than 100 buildings in the state have collapsed, and at least 70,000 families have been affected, said Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

The area also has Venezuela’s largest airport, which has been closed due to damage.

In the city of La Guaira, volunteers dug through the rubble by hand as families waited for their missing relatives to be found.

On the Caracas-La Guaira highway, rafts of civilians headed to the beach carrying water, food and medicine, rising as the danger worsened during the initial rescue.

“We lost everything. We don’t have food or medicine… We hope help will arrive soon,” said Pedro Perez, 64, an upholstery shop owner who said he lost his home and business and is sleeping on the street with his wife and children.

Pictures of fear and destruction it was also played in Caracas, where many spent the night in the streets or in their cars for fear that many buildings would collapse.

“People are afraid to go back to their homes,” journalist Maria Emilia Miro Quesada told Al Jazeera from Caracas. “They’re not sure… about the infrastructure, the damage.”

Answer from America ‘crucial’

The US, which in January carried out a military operation that reached its climax impeachment of Venezuelan President Nicolas Madurohe promised what he called a “whole-of-government response,” which included plans to deploy warships, fighter jets and helicopters, and mobilize $150m to help.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the response would be “large … fast and … effective”.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced the deployment of a field hospital, as well as dozens of firefighters and other aid workers.

The President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele said he counted 300 rescuers and medics, and 50 tons of equipment, medicine and supplies.

Cuban health workers “have already been mobilized and are providing assistance to the affected people,” said Havana’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country is sending an army of rescuers and medical workers and will send more aid if necessary.

Colombia, which also felt the quake, will send more than 60 rescuers and 12 tons of aid to its neighbor, the disaster management agency said.

“There is no doubt that the international effort to help Venezuela from all over the Americas will be important in trying not only to save people but also to help the needs of many people who have been injured,” said Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota in neighboring Colombia.

Aid has also flowed in from across Europe to China, India and war-torn Iran.

In addition, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it had released $2.5m to support the recovery. Pope Leo XIV has sent an “initial” emergency aid package of 100,000 euros ($114,000), the Vatican announced.

Al Jazeera’s Rampietti also reported that Venezuela’s recovery is being hampered by economic collapse and infrastructure damage.

“Venezuela was already in a very difficult situation” before the earthquakes, with frequent power outages and public services in “disruption”, Rampietti said. “Many hospitals were already operating… they don’t have the engineers and doctors they need.”