'The ground is still shaking': Venezuela faces continued aftershocks after twin earthquakes | Expert explains desperate situation

The search for survivors in Venezuela entered its third day on Saturday, with rescue teams and residents racing against time to find people trapped under rubble after powerful 7.2-magnitude and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes devastated parts of the country, according to the AP.

In La Guaira, one of the worst-hit states, international rescue crews, local volunteers and families searching for missing loved ones used shovels, heavy equipment, ropes and even their bare hands to clear collapsed houses and apartment buildings. Aid agencies say the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster is the most critical for finding survivors, although the chances improve if those trapped have access to food and water, the AP reported.

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

The two earthquakes that hit Venezuela had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.

The first 48 to 72 hours are crucial for rescuing survivors, as the chances of finding those trapped under the rubble decrease significantly after this period.

More than 190 aftershocks have been recorded since the two earthquakes, although most of them were imperceptible.

Residents are advised to avoid returning to damaged homes due to the ongoing risk of aftershocks that could cause further collapse.

International rescue teams from various countries have arrived to help, with more than 1,600 workers already in Venezuela helping with search and rescue operations.

Read also | Venezuela earthquake update: Death toll rises to 920, over 51,000 missing

The death toll from Wednesday’s twin earthquakes rose to at least 920 by Friday, with more than 51,000 people missing. Residents of the hardest-hit areas said they saw a limited presence of government rescue teams, despite official claims of a large-scale emergency response.

Double earthquakes

Feliciano De Santis, president of the Venezuelan Geological Society and professor of geothermal studies at the Central University of Venezuela, spent 12 years as a researcher at the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (FUNVISIS), according to a report in Le Monde.

De Santis told Le Monde that the occurrence of two strong earthquakes within a short span is an unusual phenomenon. He noted that Wednesday’s twin tremors are reminiscent of the devastating earthquake of 1902. Although seismic instruments were not available at the time, historical reports and the extent of the destruction suggest that the 1902 event was also caused by a seismic doublet.

“Centuries apart, the epicenters were in the same area. The fault is very linear there, meaning that a rupture in one segment can trigger another without stopping anything. But as I said, we still lack data,” added Feliciano De Santis.

Asked why the US Geological Survey (USGS) provided details of the two earthquakes, including their epicenters and depths, despite Venezuela’s own monitoring capabilities, De Santis pointed to the country’s seismic history.

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He explained that Venezuela’s first seismograph was supplied by the United States during the Cold War to help monitor potential nuclear explosions. After the 1967 earthquake, Venezuelan authorities established the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (FUNVISIS), which now operates a nationwide network of seismographs and accelerographs.

“FUNVISIS has confirmed the data provided by the USGS and should soon publish the accelerograms – which are key to clarifying what happened and to confirm whether the waves from the two earthquakes overlapped and amplified each other. This could explain the strength of the tremors in Caracas and La Guaira. As I speak to you now, I feel it has shaken again,” he told Le Monde.

Possible aftershocks?

Asked if there was a high risk of aftershocks, De Santis said yes. He noted that the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (FUNVISIS) has recorded more than 190 tremors since Wednesday. While most of them were imperceptible, some were felt.

Like earthquakes, aftershocks are unpredictable. It is possible that the amount of energy released at the center – equivalent to 20 to 30 atomic bombs – will limit the magnitude of the coming tremors. But based on my years of experience, I would say that two strong magnitude 5 aftershocks are likely, De Santis told Le Monde.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on state television Saturday that more than 14,000 soldiers and police had been deployed to patrol the affected area, according to an AP report. She added that access has been restricted, entry is now only permitted by special authorization.

Rescue teams sent by governments around the world continued to arrive in Venezuela on Saturday. One runway at the heavily damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves the Venezuelan capital, was operational as of Saturday, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to brief reporters, the AP said.

Worried families are waiting to see if relatives survived

In La Guaira state, north of the capital Caracas, Nazareth Jiménez broke down in tears on Friday as she watched neighbors use hammers and power tools to cut through massive concrete slabs at the site of a collapsed building. Overcome with anxiety, she waited for any sign that her siblings, nephews, nieces and friends trapped under the rubble might still be alive.

“My God, how are we going to get them out of there?” Jiménez muttered.

“We are calling for help from governments and countries around the world,” she said, pleading for machines capable of moving collapsed structures, according to the AP. “People still live there.

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Government forces were distributing food and water to survivors in La Guaira, and Rodríguez said her government was preparing a full response during these “critical hours to save living people.”

The disaster presents a major test for incumbent President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office in January after former President Nicolás Maduro was captured and removed by the United States. The country has been dealing with a protracted economic crisis for more than a decade, while Rodríguez’s political movement continues to face questions about its legitimacy from many Venezuelans.

(With input from agencies)