Morgues Paralyzed by Influx of Bodies as Despair Grows

[Anchor]

The death toll from the earthquake in Venezuela has risen to 1,450. While there are reports of miraculous rescues, including a newborn less than a month old, despair and anger are mounting among the people due to delays in rescue operations.

Gwak Sang-eun reports.

[Reporter]

An 18-day-old infant and her mother are dramatically rescued from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building.

The mother finally breathes a sigh of relief, and neighbors change the baby's diaper before she is transported to the hospital.

The mother and baby, who were rescued after 32 hours, are currently recovering in stable condition at a hospital.

Another survivor, who appears to have a leg injury, clings to a rescue worker's arm as he emerges from a narrow gap, and a man and his teenage son miraculously come out of a thick pile of concrete, covered in dust.

Although the Venezuelan government announced that 33 survivors were rescued on June 27 alone, the death toll is rising rapidly as the earthquake enters its sixth day.

The government has confirmed 1,450 deaths and 3,150 injuries.

Morgues in places such as the capital, Caracas, are paralyzed by the influx of bodies.

Rescue operations remain slow as more than 430 aftershocks continue and infrastructure has collapsed.

[Affected Resident: They are not providing any equipment. My family is still in that rubble.]

Public resentment is growing as the government has restricted access to various roads, claiming it is to reduce congestion.

[Affected Resident: They are not helping with the search for the rubble, and they are not even allowing us to enter the site.]

The number of missing persons on a private reporting website, which once exceeded 70,000, has decreased after excluding duplicate reports and confirmed survivors, but it still stands at approximately 46,000.

Amid growing dissatisfaction with the interim government led by Rodriguez, opposition leader Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, has announced her intention to return to the country, leading to predictions that political conflict will intensify.

(Video Editing: Jo Mu-hwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.