A week after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela, hopes of finding more survivors are rapidly fading as the country turns its attention to an expanding humanitarian emergency.
The death toll has risen to 2,295, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, while more than 11,000 people have been injured.
Nearly 13,000 people have lost their homes, and the United Nations estimates that around 50,000 people remain unaccounted for.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has declared seven days of national mourning, describing the disaster as a tragedy that has deeply scarred the nation.
The strongest destruction has been reported in the coastal city of La Guaira, north of Caracas, where rescue teams have now completed searches in many collapsed buildings. Structures where no survivors were found have been marked to indicate that recovery efforts have ended.
International rescue teams continue to work in some locations, but officials acknowledge that the chances of finding people alive have become increasingly remote.
Emergency specialists say survival beyond 72 hours without food, water or medical care is exceptionally rare following major building collapses.
There have been isolated stories of survival, including a three-year-old boy who was rescued six days after the first earthquake, offering a brief moment of hope amid widespread devastation.
Many families, however, continue to wait for news of missing relatives.
In several affected neighbourhoods, residents gathered around damaged buildings after believing they had heard signs of life beneath the rubble, only to be told by rescue teams that no evidence of survivors had been detected.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, destroyed entire communities and placed further strain on a country already struggling with years of economic hardship and weakened public infrastructure.
International assistance has continued to arrive, with rescue specialists and relief workers from several countries supporting local emergency services. The United States has also deployed around 2,000 personnel to assist with the humanitarian response.
As rescue operations begin to wind down, attention is shifting towards the urgent needs of survivors. Thousands of people remain homeless, while shortages of food, drinking water and other basic supplies are becoming increasingly severe.
Long queues have formed at emergency shelters, where aid distributions have struggled to meet demand. Some residents have described chaotic scenes as desperate families compete for limited supplies.
Authorities have also reported incidents of looting in affected areas. Four police officers were arrested after residents allegedly caught them stealing valuables from damaged buildings.
Humanitarian organisations warn that living conditions continue to deteriorate. Many families are sleeping in temporary shelters, open spaces or car parks after their homes were destroyed.
The International Organization for Migration says the situation remains critical as relief agencies work to provide essential assistance to displaced communities.
The World Food Programme has appealed for 50 million US dollars to provide food assistance for around 500,000 people over the next three months.
Health experts are also warning of a growing risk of disease outbreaks.
The World Health Organization says damage to healthcare facilities, combined with previously low vaccination rates, could increase the spread of preventable diseases, including measles and diphtheria.
Preliminary satellite analysis released by NASA suggests that almost 59,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes, underlining the enormous scale of the disaster.
With rescue efforts now largely giving way to recovery operations, Venezuela faces the long challenge of rebuilding communities while ensuring millions affected by the disaster receive food, shelter and medical care in the weeks ahead.
