Aftershocks of earthquakes in Venezuela hamper rescue operations

Frequent aftershocks following the two major earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday (24) are affecting rescue efforts for survivors trapped in collapsed buildings, according to humanitarian aid coordinator Loyce Pace.

"I don't know if people realize how constant this threat has been," Pace, director of the Red Cross for the Americas, told Victor Blackwell on CNN This Morning, this Saturday (27).

"We've been experiencing successive tremors every time we speak on the phone with my team on the ground... It's pretty constant and scary. This means our teams need to be very careful when going into these communities to better assess the damage or provide assistance."

These frequent aftershocks also require people to be cautious when returning to their homes, she added.

"People want to go home, they want to feel safe again, but there are risks to the safety of structures - buildings that are literally collapsing - so we need to be very careful in the coming weeks," she added.

Many people are still sleeping outdoors due to the threat, and although some temporary shelters are being set up, it will be time before everyone has access to them, he said.

After earthquake, Venezuela asks Brazil for field hospital and rescue | CNN 360º

In the face of such extensive damage and ongoing aftershocks, "there is a lot of anxiety circulating in the community right now, including among our volunteers," Pace added.

Some Red Cross volunteers have family members who are missing or have lost their own homes, but "started working immediately" to help with relief efforts, the humanitarian aid coordinator said.

As international teams arrive, she hopes there will be "people on site capable of taking on their work."

"It's really a lot, to be honest," he added.

Understand how the strength of earthquakes is measured

Source: CNN