Venezuela rescuers battle flies, stench to recover quake bodies

STORY: :: Caraballeda, Venezuela / July 11, 2026 :: Volunteers continue recovery efforts amid dust, flies and a heavy stench from unrecovered bodies :: Manuel Malaguer, Resident “We're trying to find that body. We've been going through the rooms to see if, because of the stench, in this case, the smell, we're trying to find him because we don't know where the body is in this case. If it's a person, a family member, who's there. We're trying to find him because he is missing.” :: Authorities say the confirmed death toll from the twin earthquakes exceeds 4,000 :: Ricardo Carrillo, Volunteer “We’re looking for a three-year-old child under the rubble. We’re trying to find him. There are six of us working here, but there are actually about 40 workers spread out across the area. Yes, we’re spread out by blocks. We take turns, we stay here, and tomorrow others will come, and that’s how it goes. We’re all helping each other out.” Since the early hours of Saturday, dozens of people stood by the rubble in La Guaira, hoping to find the bodies of their loved ones. Many of them said they would not leave until they find the missing. Conditions in the area are becoming increasingly difficult. Rescuers are working in high temperatures, amongst piles of debris and pollution caused by the destruction of buildings and infrastructure. And there is the smell of rotting bodies still buried under the rubble. The work continues around the clock, although risks are increasing due to the instability of some structures and the sanitary conditions in the area. On Thursday (July 9), the Americas branch of the World Health Organization said disease outbreaks, poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and disruptions to basic medical care could pose the greatest health risks to the tens of thousands of survivors of Venezuela's deadly earthquakes.

STORY: :: Caraballeda, Venezuela / July 11, 2026:: Volunteers continue recovery efforts amid dust, flies and a heavy stench from unrecovered bodies:: Manuel Malaguer, Resident“We're trying to find that body. We've been going through the rooms to see if, because of the stench, in this case, the smell, we're trying to find him because we don't know where the body is in this case. If it's a person, a family member, who's there.

We're trying to find him because he is missing.”:: Authorities say the confirmed death toll from the twin earthquakes exceeds 4,000 :: Ricardo Carrillo, Volunteer“We’re looking for a three-year-old child under the rubble. We’re trying to find him. There are six of us working here, but there are actually about 40 workers spread out across the area.

Yes, we’re spread out by blocks. We take turns, we stay here, and tomorrow others will come, and that’s how it goes. We’re all helping each other out.

”Since the early hours of Saturday, dozens of people stood by the rubble in La Guaira, hoping to find the bodies of their loved ones. Many of them said they would not leave until they find the missing.

Conditions in the area are becoming increasingly difficult. Rescuers are working in high temperatures, amongst piles of debris and pollution caused by the destruction of buildings and infrastructure. And there is the smell of rotting bodies still buried under the rubble.

The work continues around the clock, although risks are increasing due to the instability of some structures and the sanitary conditions in the area. On Thursday (July 9), the Americas branch of the World Health Organization said disease outbreaks, poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and disruptions to basic medical care could pose the greatest health risks to the tens of thousands of survivors of Venezuela's deadly earthquakes.