Roadblocks and fuel shortages hamper rescue efforts
The devastation has been especially severe along Venezuela’s coast. La Guaira, one of the areas hit hardest, saw dozens of buildings collapse, Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said in a televised address. Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas and is located close to the city of La Guaira, was closed for days after suffering heavy damage.
As volunteer groups and concerned family members head toward the affected areas, heavy traffic has clogged the highway, preventing ambulances and rescue crews from reaching those in need. Officials later restricted access and set up a permit system for entry, but residents say bottlenecks have continued.
Rayner Vasquez, a resident of La Guaira, said the constant motorcycle traffic has also made rescue work harder by drowning out sounds from the rubble. The noise, he said, has made it nearly impossible to hear cries from people who may still be trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The traffic has also contributed to fuel shortages in the area, with some people waiting in line for hours to refuel.
