According to CNN, frequent aftershocks and a shortage of heavy machinery are hampering rescue efforts.
“Every time we speak to my team on the ground, there are strong tremors… It’s quite constant, and it’s very frightening. This means our teams have to be very careful when heading into these communities to assess the damage or provide the necessary assistance,” said Lois Pace, Director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the Americas.
According to CBS News, around 51,000 people remain missing.
The tremors occurred at intervals of about a minute, with the second, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, being stronger than the first; it is considered the most destructive in over 100 years. The densely populated coastal state of Vargas was hardest hit, particularly the city of La Guaira, whilst damage has also been reported in the capital, Caracas. At least tens of thousands of people have been left homeless.