Grim Outlook for Survivors in Venezuela's Quake-Hit La Guaira

The chances of finding survivors in the heavily damaged buildings of La Guaira, the Venezuelan region most affected by recent powerful earthquakes, are slim, according to Nadiomar Polanco, head of the Chilean rescue contingent. "Unfortunately, the collapse is total, and there are few probabilities of finding people alive," Polanco stated, observing the extensive damage to several buildings.

Rescue efforts are now focused on recovering deceased individuals. Polanco noted that his contingent was the first to arrive at the site. The overall death toll from the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has reached 920, with confirmation of foreign nationals among the victims. The UN's head of humanitarian aid, Tom Fletcher, reported that more than 50,000 people are still missing.

Several countries have reported casualties among their citizens in Venezuela. Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed 28 deaths and 85 disappearances among Portuguese citizens or those of Portuguese descent. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported at least five Spanish deaths and 119 missing individuals. Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed two Brazilian fatalities, offering consular assistance to their families. An Italian-Venezuelan man also died following a building collapse, according to Italy's foreign ministry, which estimates around 170,000 people in Venezuela hold Italian passports.

Additionally, two Chinese citizens were confirmed among the earthquake victims. The Chinese embassy in Caracas issued a statement urging Chinese nationals in Venezuela to take precautions against secondary disasters caused by aftershocks and other seismic activity. The scale of the devastation in La Guaira highlights the catastrophic impact of the earthquakes across the region.