An aftershock struck Venezuela yesterday, five days after two devastating earthquakes, as hopes of finding survivors grow increasingly slim.
Caracas was shaken once again by a 4.6-magnitude earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), five days after the twin quakes that killed approximately 1,500 people.
The USGS said the epicentre of the tremor was located 27 kilometres north of Carayaped in La Guaira state (north), at a depth of 10 kilometres, close to the area devastated by last Wednesday's disaster.
Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said via Telegram: "We have just experienced a moderate-intensity aftershock, and we have received no reports of additional damage in any part of the country."
José González, a resident of La Guaira, told Agence France-Presse: "We really felt it."
The death toll from the two earthquakes in Venezuela rose on Sunday to 1,500, with reports of around 50,000 people missing, according to the United Nations.
Authorities stated that the earthquake damaged 774 buildings, 189 of which collapsed.
Experts believe that the chances of finding survivors are diminishing as time passes.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said that "search and rescue operations are ongoing. We have found survivors alive... and hope still drives us," as thousands of rescue workers, including more than 2,000 foreigners, and volunteers continue their race against time.