Venezuelan Families Denounce Blocked Search Efforts After Quakes

Relatives of individuals buried under debris following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela's La Guaira state are denouncing what they describe as deliberate impediments to their search and rescue operations. Eva Belkrin, searching for her two daughters, stated that authorities, including military personnel and building officials, are denying them access with essential machinery to look for survivors or recover bodies.

"We demand, please, let us work. The national armed forces have not let us work. The officials responsible for this building do not let us work," Belkrin asserted to journalists. She holds these officials responsible for preventing the use of necessary equipment to clear the rubble, more than two weeks after the initial seismic events.

Official figures released Friday indicate that the earthquakes, which struck on June 24, have claimed at least 4,118 lives, with 16,740 people injured. The number of homeless remains at 17,907, and 86,794 families have received assistance, according to Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly.

Rodríguez, who is also the brother of Venezuela's executive vice president Delcy Rodríguez, reported that 17,266 individuals are housed in 89 temporary camps. The Venezuelan government has described the double earthquake as the deadliest natural disaster to hit the country in the last century.

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We demand, please, let us work. The national armed forces have not let us work. The officials responsible for this building do not let us work.