Rescue teams save 33 after Venezuela earthquakes as thousands remain missing

Thirty-three people have been rescued after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, the country's interim president said. The death toll has risen above 1,400 as of Saturday, with foreign rescue teams arriving in the coastal state of La Guaira.

Families and volunteers had been searching rubble for survivors and bodies before the arrival of more than 1,600 foreign rescue workers. Rescue teams reported limited heavy equipment and hundreds of aftershocks that continued to damage structures.

Access restrictions and missing persons count The government tightened road access to La Guaira, stating that only accredited personnel could enter to allow emergency vehicles to move efficiently. A website promoted by the political opposition listed just under 50,000 people as unaccounted for on Sunday, down from 55,000 the previous day.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that more than 10,000 deaths were possible from the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes.

Rescue operations and time constraints Rescue teams stated that the window for finding survivors alive is roughly 72 hours after the quakes. The Swiss rescue team leader said the probability of saving people alive decreases after that period. U.S. rescue crews pulled an infant from rubble on Saturday.

A Colombian team rescued an 11-year-old boy trapped about 3 meters deep, and Mexican rescuers saved another 11-year-old boy from a collapsed building. The government reported more than 3,000 people injured and a similar number living in shelters. Power is gradually returning to the region after the quakes damaged infrastructure.