The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 1,719, on Tuesday as rescuers continue to recover more bodies from the debris of collapsed buildings.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the death toll could chances of finding more survivors fading fast as the pace of rescue operations slows.
The latest death toll was released by Venezuela's Health Ministry, which show that 1,719 people have been killed, 5,034 have been injured, and 15,866 have been left homeless after the back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes.
Search and rescue operations intensified on Monday, with more international aid teams continuing to arrive in the disaster-hit nation.
Several nations, including the US, India, Japan, have deployed medical professionals and set up makeshift field hospitals to assist in relief operations.
Meanwhile, specialised rescue teams from the United States, Japan, and Switzerland are conducting recovery operations.
Officials fear that tens of thousands of people remain missing. Rescue efforts currently involve around 30,000 Venezuelan emergency workers and 2,700 foreign experts.
The critical 72-hour window for rescuing people trapped beneath the rubble passed on Saturday evening. However, a handful of successful rescues on Sunday offered renewed hope.
Survival chances improve if trapped people have access to food and water. "Today we recovered people alive, and therefore operations are not being suspended. We always maintain hope," interim President Delcy Rodríguez said on Sunday.
Venezuelan authorities said on Tuesday that the country has received support from 24 countries, which have sent more than 500 tonnes of relief supplies, 2,700 rescue and support personnel, and 86 teams with search dogs.
Also read: Death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela crosses 1,500
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