Aftershock Hits Caracas as Venezuela Earthquake Rescue Enters Critical Phase

Residents of Caracas experienced a jolt on Monday morning as a 4.6-magnitude aftershock rattled their homes, just as rescue teams entered the critical fourth day of round-the-clock operations following last week's devastating earthquakes.

The aftershock, centered at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the capital, did not cause immediate damage, according to Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly. The focus of the rescue efforts remains on La Guaira, the state most severely impacted by the twin earthquakes that have claimed nearly 1,500 lives and reduced hundreds of buildings to rubble.

The international community has responded with significant aid. Venezuela has received support from 24 countries, which have collectively sent over 500 metric tons of supplies, more than 2,700 rescue and support personnel, and approximately 86 canine teams, according to Venezuelan authorities. National and international teams continued their search for survivors through the night, fueled by the hope of finding more people alive.

One success story emerged as Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele shared the rescue of 21-year-old Aaron Levi, who was pulled from a collapsed building in La Guaira after being trapped for 106 hours. The complex rescue operation took 43 hours and involved coordinated efforts from Venezuelan, Mexican, and El Salvadoran teams.

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This rescue was made possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of rescue teams from Venezuela, Mexico, and El Salvador.