Venezuelans dig for earthquake survivors as 72-hour rescue window nears end

At least 920 people are confirmed dead and more than 51,000 missing after two earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday.Rescuers are racing against time in Venezuela, three days after two powerful earthquakes struck, with at least 920 people confirmed dead and more than 51,000 still missing.The twin, magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes hit on Wednesday, devastating the coastal area around La Guaira, where authorities moved on Friday night to restrict access as traffic chaos began to hamper search efforts.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4How much disaster aid will the US provide to Venezuela?list 2 of 4Desperate families search for missing loved ones in Venezuelalist 3 of 4Venezuela shaken by magnitude 4.9 tremor days after major earthquakeslist 4 of 4Rescue efforts turn to recovery as aftershocks shake Venezuelaend of listWith a scarcity of government rescue teams, Venezuelans have become desperate in the hardest-hit areas, digging through rubble with their hands, with aid agencies warning the critical 72-hour survival window is closing fast.Officials said anyone who wants to enter the area around La Guaira would now have to seek official permits, but provided few details of who would be allowed in.People reported seeing few state rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas, despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.“Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly.“We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”Government forces distributed food and water to survivors in La Guaira, and Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said her government was mounting a full response during these “critical hours for rescuing people alive”.She welcomed the arrival of international rescuers and humanitarian aid.Rodriguez said La Guaira had been “militarised” and more help was on the way, even as residents said it was just a fraction of what they needed.