Amateur Venezuelan rescue workers, known as topos (moles), have spent recent days burrowing deep into crevices and crannies to locate thousands of people feared trapped after their homes collapsed during powerful earthquakes on 24 June.
Rescue efforts in La Guaira
Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, visited Residencia Costa Brava and OPPE 26 in La Guaira, a region devastated by the quakes. The topos, often working without proper equipment, risk their lives to reach survivors under tons of debris.
Challenges faced by volunteers
According to Phillips, the volunteers operate with minimal training and resources, relying on courage and determination. 'You need to be brave,' one rescuer said, describing the dangerous conditions inside collapsed structures.
Impact of the earthquakes
The 24 June earthquakes caused widespread destruction in coastal areas, with thousands of homes reduced to rubble. Official estimates suggest a significant number of people remain missing, though exact figures are still being compiled.
