Officials said tens of thousands of people have yet to be accounted for. The Venezuelan government has not released an official estimate of the number of missing, but the United Nations believes as many as 50,000 people could still be unaccounted for following the consecutive magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes.
The coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, suffered the most extensive damage, with entire neighborhoods flattened. Rescue teams managed to pull several survivors from the rubble over the past week. Heavy machinery has now begun clearing collapsed buildings, while some families continue searching through the debris for the bodies of loved ones.
Maiquetía International Airport in La Guaira has partially reopened to receive humanitarian aid flights. Venezuelan authorities said they are working with international partners to fully restore airport operations and expect to finalize recovery plans next week.
As rescue efforts gradually wind down, acting President Delcy Rodríguez presided over a ceremony honoring international search-and-rescue teams, including canine units, for their assistance. She said Venezuela is enduring "profound national grief," as many families continue to hope their missing relatives will be found alive while others have lost everything.
