[Anchor]

The scale of casualties from the earthquake in Venezuela is growing uncontrollably. The number of injured has doubled in just one day, surpassing 10,000, and hospitals are struggling to treat the influx of patients.

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the story.

[Reporter]

A hospital at the site of the earthquake damage in Venezuela.

Beds fill not only the wards but also the hallways, and patients who could not find a spot are lying on mattresses spread out on the floor.

[Doctor at a hospital in Caracas: I have not been able to rest since the earthquake struck on the 24th. The damage is so severe that patients keep pouring in.]

Medical staff and employees have been unable to leave the hospital since the earthquake occurred.

[Administrative staff at a hospital in Caracas: I cannot leave the hospital, and because my wife and children are afraid to be at home without me while aftershocks continue, my family has come to stay at the hospital.]

Even so, hospitals with medical staff and the ability to provide treatment are in a better situation.

Many hospitals in the affected areas are virtually paralyzed.

This is because a surge of patients followed the series of powerful earthquakes, occurring while medical equipment and staff were already severely lacking due to long-standing Western sanctions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Venezuela's healthcare facilities have already exceeded their capacity, raising the risk of a large-scale epidemic.

The confirmed death toll is nearing 2,000, and the number of injured has more than doubled in a single day, well exceeding 10,000.

Rescue operations remain slow as even the available heavy equipment cannot be used due to fuel shortages.

[Heavy equipment operator: (Why is the machine stopped?) There is no fuel.]

However, rescue teams continue their efforts to save even one more life.

[Footage filmed yesterday (June 30, local time): Hernan, try moving your hand again.]

Yesterday, news of a miraculous survival was reported as a three-year-old child was rescued after six days.

While support is arriving, including the restoration of the hardest-hit La Guaira port and the arrival of 47 tons of UN relief supplies, it is still not enough to alleviate the difficulties at the disaster site.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-yeol)