Rescue operations continued in Venezuela following a series of devastating earthquakes that leveled parts of the coastal city of La Guaira, with international teams and local volunteers working amid widespread destruction and criticism of the government’s response.

Hours after the critical 72-hour period commonly recognized as the “golden window” for rescuing survivors, a 43-year-old security guard was pulled alive from beneath the rubble of a collapsed shopping center after eight days. Firefighter Tristan Bowen, from south Wales, noted that survival beyond this timeframe, while rare, can depend heavily on the conditions within the rubble.

In the shattered remains of La Gabarra, a high-rise housing complex reduced to twisted concrete and debris, families waited anxiously for news of missing loved ones. Among them was Olivia Sandoval, who maintained a vigil for her eight-year-old grandson Ronald, named after footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Venezuelan baseball player Ronald Acuña. He, along with two cousins, was caught when the building collapsed.

Sandoval described the influx of international rescue teams from Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Peru, and many Venezuelan volunteers who have mobilized with tools and supplies to aid efforts. However, she expressed profound disappointment over the Venezuelan government’s limited presence and support.

Critics and experts attribute the sluggish official response to years of mismanagement, corruption, and prioritization of political repression over public services, compounded by extensive US sanctions that have hampered the state’s capacity. Public anger was evident near Residencia Costa Brava, another severely damaged tower, where some residents blamed the government’s handling of the crisis.

Adolfo Guedes, who lost his 23-year-old daughter Alexandra in the disaster, voiced his frustration, linking the collapse of state institutions and emergency preparedness to the ruling Chavista movement, currently led by acting president Delcy Rodríguez. Rodríguez, who assumed the presidency following Nicolás Maduro’s removal by U.S. actions, defended the government’s response, describing accusations of delay as unfair and pledging to continue work “morning, noon, and night.” She highlighted military personnel’s efforts, including an army commander managing a displaced persons camp despite personal losses.

On the ground, international teams remained crucial to search and rescue operations. In one heavily damaged building, Mexican, British, and Brazilian firefighters, accompanied by search dogs and acoustic monitoring equipment, pressed efforts to locate survivors trapped inside. Capt Diego Assunção of the São Paulo fire department reported detecting signs of life, offering a glimmer of hope amid the ruins.

Locals expressed frustration that Venezuelan soldiers were seen armed rather than engaged in rescue efforts during the initial hours after the quake. Jesus David de Oliveira, a civil engineer, said international aid was the primary source of assistance in the area, underscoring a sense of abandonment by official forces.

Despite the devastation and mounting losses, rescue teams and volunteers persisted at the site into the early days following the quakes. A slogan scrawled on the rubble at Residencia Don Peppino summed up the resilience of the community: “Where the government is absent, the people abound.” Among the debris lay personal belongings—children’s toys, family photos, and household items—that reflected the lives disrupted by the disaster and the continuing hope for survivors amid the ruins.