Venezuelan authorities and international responders continued search and rescue operations on Monday, five days after twin earthquakes struck the La Guaira region, leaving more than 1,700 dead and tens of thousands displaced. The first 72 hours after a natural disaster are considered critical for saving lives, but survival can be extended if people have access to food and water.

A 4.6 magnitude aftershock occurred on Monday, 27 kilometers north of Caraballeda, according to the United States Geological Survey, with no reported damage. The government reported that electricity had been restored to 90% of the hardest-hit area and that 15 temporary displacement camps had been set up.

Relief organizations say the response has been hampered by limited resources and skepticism about official casualty figures, which many observers say understate the true scale of damage. The United Nations estimates that up to 6.8 million of Venezuela’s nearly 30 million residents may be affected, while the Venezuelan Red Cross expects to address the needs of at least 300,000 people over the next two years.

Dozens of countries have offered assistance, and the United States has deployed 300 first responders and sent two dozen C-17 aircraft daily with supplies, providing more than $300 million in financial support. A senior State Department official said the U.S. military is also helping repair the port in La Guaira and manage air traffic after damage to the control tower at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas.

Rescue efforts have included individuals such as Jean Sosa, a miner deported from the United States who has been digging through rubble with a pickaxe. He reported rescuing 20 people alive despite a lack of equipment.

The government has faced criticism for restricting media access to the affected area, citing the need to reduce noise during rescue operations, while the press union urged the authorities to allow journalists to report timely information. The full extent of building damage remains unclear, with a preliminary NASA assessment identifying more than 58,000 structures potentially damaged or collapsed.