Venezuelans Accuse Government of Delaying Earthquake Rescues After 1,700 Deaths
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 30
Venezuelans Accuse Government of Delaying Earthquake Rescues After 1,700 Deaths
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 30
Summary
Families in La Guaira said Venezuela's rescue response came too late after last week's twin earthquakes, with residents still searching collapsed buildings for missing relatives.
Nearly 2 days passed before the first official firefighters reached some sites, residents said, and several areas still had not been reached even as foreign teams from Colombia, El Salvador and the US joined operations.
At the 12-storey collapse and the Bello Horizonte complex, survivors and volunteers described digging with bare hands, spades and crowbars while police stood nearby without helping; one woman was pulled out alive by neighbors.
At least 1,700 people have been reported dead, and residents fear the toll is higher because hundreds may remain buried after some rescue operations were called off on Sunday.