Venezuela search teams scramble as hope fades of finding quake survivors

Hope is fading for survivors of powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela, as rescue efforts continue more than four days after the initial tremors. The disaster has claimed at least 1,450 lives, with tens of thousands still missing. Residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the government's response to the catastrophe, which has compounded the nation's severe economic crisis.

Despite the grim outlook, rescue teams on Sunday pulled a man and his teenage son alive from the rubble in Caraballeda, a town north of Caracas. This rare success offered a moment of hope in the ongoing tragedy. However, the critical 72-hour window for rescuing trapped victims has passed, diminishing the likelihood of further discoveries.

The back-to-back quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck on Wednesday evening. They have devastated communities, with 774 buildings severely damaged and 189 completely collapsed. Millions more are feared to be without essential sanitation and basic needs, facing dire conditions in the aftermath of one of Latin America's most destructive seismic events.

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French and American rescue teams found a man and his teen son alive under the rubble on Sunday in Caraballeda, a town about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Caracas, AFP journalists saw.