Death Toll Hits 1,450 in Venezuela, K-9 Teams Continue Searching for Survivors

The critical 72-hour window for finding survivors alive has passed in Venezuela, yet rescue teams refuse to stand down. Emergency teams from around the world continue combing through collapsed buildings in the hope of finding survivors.

The death toll from last Wednesday’s twin earthquakes climbs to at least 1,450, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for, according to official reports. Some 3,150 people have been injured and 12,721 displaced.

The BBC reported that international teams from the UK, US, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Colombia are on the ground, armed with specially trained sniffer dogs, acoustic sound detectors, thermal imaging equipment, and technical cameras.

Specially trained dogs remain one of the most effective tools. They can detect human scent beneath up to 10 metres of rubble and alert handlers with “a really strong and sustained bark” when they find signs of life, the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced temporary camps for the displaced and a presidential commission to assess damaged infrastructure. However, frustration is mounting on the ground, particularly among residents who say the Venezuelan government’s response has been too slow.

Three Americans are among those confirmed dead, NBC News reported. More than 300 Americans have contacted the US State Department requesting assistance.