Venezuela is enduring a grim vigil as search teams, including British specialists, comb through the rubble of collapsed buildings in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. The death toll has climbed past 200, with thousands more feared trapped under the debris. Rescuers work through the night, their efforts punctuated by moments of silence as they listen for signs of life.
In the capital Caracas, families cling to hope, clutching photographs of missing loved ones. British search and rescue teams, deployed as part of an international response, have brought specialist equipment and dogs trained to detect survivors. The operation is a race against time: after 72 hours, survival rates plummet.
The disaster has exposed Venezuela's fragility, with its economy already in ruins. Inflation has made construction materials scarce, and many buildings were poorly built. Now, the rubble is a cruel reminder of inequality: the richest had stronger homes.
Union leaders in Britain have already called for a suspension of sanctions to allow humanitarian aid to flow more freely. But for now, the focus is on the dig. Every prayer, every shovel of rubble, every weary rescuer represents a chance.
A chance to find life amidst the dust.
