Venezuelans take search for the missing into their own hands as earthquake death toll climbs

(27 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS La Guaira, Venezuela - 26 June 2026 1. Mid of emergency service workers removing debris 2. Pan left of destruction 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Julio Bojacá, Colombian rescue worker: ++PARTIALLY OVERLAID++ "It's very complex. The collapses are very complicated. For example, if you see that box there, that's the elevator and what we are looking at is the ceiling." 4. Bojacá, on debris of collapsed hotel 5. Various of people working to remove debris 6. People carrying wrapped body 7. Wide of tents for those displaced on baseball field 8. Omar Guariato, who was displaced by earthquakes, at camp 9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Omar Guariato, displaced by earthquakes: ++PARTIALLY OVERLAID++ "There was no time for anything, and even though we tried to leave... my house didn't collapse, but then when my daughter went out to look for her child, the house next door, which is three stories high, collapsed and fell on top of her. It covered her, she was trapped." 10. Wide of damaged hotel 11. People sleeping on mattresses STORYLINE: Venezuelans took the search for missing loved ones into their own hands on Friday in the aftermath of back-to-back earthquakes, citing the scarcity of government rescuers, as the human toll of the disaster climbed to at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing. Citizens digging through the rubble of their homes said they have only a few state rescue teams in the areas despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response. The lack of help compounded families' desperation as the pressure to find buried survivors increased with each passing hour. The South American nation on Friday marked nearly two days since the disaster. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours to be a crucial time frame to retrieve people alive, though that period can be extended if they have access to food and water. Omar Guariato was celebrating his granddaughter's 5th birthday at home when the earthquakes began. As he sat in a camp for displaced people in the hard-hit La Guaira, he recalled the moment the house next door collapsed. "My house didn't collapse, but then when my daughter went out to look for her child, the house next door, which is three-stories high, collapsed and fell on top of her. It covered her, she was trapped." On Friday night, Venezuelan authorities announced they would block off access to La Guaira, the epicenter of the destruction, as chaos and and traffic began to affect search efforts. Government officials said that those who wanted to enter would now have to seek official permits, but provided few details of who would be allowed to enter. Meanwhile, a broad international aid effort accelerated, with dozens of rescue teams from around the globe arriving in Venezuela or due to arrive there soon. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...