‘Every person saved is a miracle’: Families call to trapped loved ones in region devastated by Venezuela quakes

Traffic and crowds can sometimes hinder the search operations. Soldiers and Mexican volunteers have repeatedly called for silence, so they can listen for signs of life under the debris.

People are helping however they can. Those who have drones are using them to search for survivors or the deceased in hard-to-reach places.

Families huddle around drone video feeds searching for anything familiar. A piece of clothing, a strand of hair, a belonging. Anything that might bring news of a loved one.

As time passes, the unofficial death toll rises – and so do the consequences.

“There’s a smell… the dead are already being felt. That’s going to make us and the children sick,” says Glendys Delgado.

Two buildings near where Delgado lives are collapsed, but there has been no official help, she says. “No one from the government has come here, but I thank God that people from Caracas have come to support us with food.”

Deiyer Gabril, 27, says every area has been affected, “Macuto, Caribe… everything over there is bad. And we can all feel the odour.”

Authorities reported on Friday that 861 volunteers from Mexico, the US, El Salvador, Switzerland, Colombia, and other countries were in Venezuela, with more arriving.

Interim President Rodríguez said she spoke with US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, and that they reaffirmed their commitment to send rescue teams and aid supplies.