LA GUAIRA, Venezuela – The human toll of back-to-back earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s La Guaira state on June 24 continues to mount, with the death toll now exceeding 4,300. Search and rescue teams are working amidst the ruins, but the scale of devastation is immense, leaving tens of thousands missing.

The region, a coastal state, has been decimated by the natural disaster, leaving buildings in unrecognizable states. Homes have pancaked, and taller structures have collapsed on their sides, exposing the private lives once held within. The United Nations has estimated that 50,000 Venezuelans are missing in the wastelands of rubble, a figure that underscores the catastrophic impact of the quakes.

Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi and a photographer documented the grim reality on the ground, working alongside the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group and the Syrian White Helmets. The smell of decay is pervasive as teams painstakingly work to recover bodies from the debris. Intense heat and the sheer volume of collapsed concrete and twisted metal make the recovery efforts arduous.

Residents like Janet Viana, 72, are desperately hoping to recover loved ones from the rubble. Viana’s son is believed to be in a collapsed tower where the government has not yet provided heavy machinery for recovery efforts. The government has informed residents that the building is slated for demolition, adding urgency to Viana’s plea to retrieve her son’s body.

The lack of government assistance and heavy machinery for recovery operations has drawn criticism from residents. Viana expressed despair, stating her only hope is to recover her son’s body before the building is torn down, highlighting the absence of any other form of support or response.

Reports from the ground indicate widespread destruction throughout La Guaira and the city of Catia La Mar. Buildings have been reduced to piles of rubble, with some larger complexes stripped of their exteriors, revealing the intimate details of homes now lost. The precarious state of remaining structures poses further risks to survivors and rescue workers.

This disaster strikes Venezuela amidst a protracted economic crisis, which likely complicates the government’s ability to mount an effective response. The long-term implications for the affected communities, including displacement and the need for extensive rebuilding, remain significant.

The ongoing search efforts and the sheer number of missing persons raise critical questions about the capacity for recovery and the long road ahead for the people of La Guaira as they confront the aftermath of these devastating earthquakes.