33 rescued in weekend earthquakes, but hope fades

Hope is fading for finding more survivors of the earthquakes in Venezuela as the critical 96-hour window closed late Sunday. However, rescue teams continue their efforts, having pulled 33 people alive from the rubble over the weekend, according to the country's president.

International rescue teams, including those from the US and France, are working alongside local responders. Despite the grim statistics, with 1,450 confirmed dead and tens of thousands still missing, moments of hope persist. British rescuer Mark Leeson told BBC Radio 4, "Miracle rescues happen from time to time. You always have to hope that you can make a difference."

On Sunday, two 11-year-old boys were rescued from separate collapsed buildings. One boy was found under three meters of debris, near his deceased mother and sister. In the heavily affected city of La Guaira, a man and his teenage son were also pulled out alive by American and French rescue teams.

However, the Venezuelan government has faced significant criticism for its response to the disaster. Reports highlight a lack of heavy machinery, with many Venezuelans resorting to digging through the rubble with their bare hands. "I got my daughter out halfway. But they don't give us any equipment," one resident in La Guaira told Reuters, expressing frustration with the authorities' support.

Despite the challenges and the closing of the critical survival window, the determination of rescue workers and the resilience of survivors offer a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation.