Seven days after the earthquakes, Venezuela has recorded 2,295 deaths and more than 11,200 injuries

Rescue work continues in Venezuela, a week after two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 last Wednesday. Venezuelan Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez updatedthe tragedy figures on Wednesday: for the time being, 2,295 havebeen killed and 11,267 injured .

The tragedy in Venezuela has entered a new phase, as from 72 hours the chances of finding survivors have dropped dramatically, according to experts, so many residents are searching for the bodies of their relatives in order to bury them with dignity.

Moreover, as more than 160 hours have already passed, despite the fact that many rescuers are still working, some international teams have decided to return to their countries, an example of which the Dutch rescue team has concluded its mission in the South American country.

Criticism and anger at the lack of resources

However, the rescue teams have not reached all the collapsed buildings, and in some places it is the inexperienced civilians, relatives and neighbours, who are working in the rubble to find their relatives and acquaintances.

In La Guaira, the state most devastated by the tragedy, several families haverented equipment with bulldozers   for about $1,000 a day, with the main objective of continuing to remove debris, and are willing to pay for it, but this option is available only to the wealthy.

At this juncture, discontent with the Government has begun to spread among the families of those missing from the earthquakes and those affected, who criticize the lack of resources and coordination both in the rescue work and in the organization of assistance to survivors. 

As if the disaster were not enough, several people have taken advantage of the situation to commit the robberies , increasing the irritation of those affected.

Members of the United Democratic Platform (PUD), which is part of the opposition, have highlighted the state's "serious weaknesses" in responding to "an emergency of this magnitude." They have denounced years of "institutional neglect" and regretted that the situation is "paid for by the citizens." 

Meanwhile, citizens have formed\ u00A0 support networks for those affected; there are survivors or those who have created digital websites to find the dead, others have set up spaces to collect donations and help those in need...

The opposition Maria Corina Machado, for example, has promoted a website for citizens to report missing persons, where 40,668 people have so far been registered who have not contacted family and friends.

Meanwhile, President Delcy Rodriguez has declared national mourning for seven days from this Wednesday.

According to the latest data provided by the Government, 80,870 families have been treated, while 26,121 Venezuelans and 3,660 foreign rescuers have been reported to be involved in rescue work, supported by 148 dogs and 49 vehicles.

With regard to damage to buildings, the United Nations Development Programme has made a preliminary estimate of $6.7 billion.