Venezuelans keep searching for earthquake survivors “as long as it takes” after two quakes hit days earlier

Venezuelans are continuing a desperate search for survivors after two deadly earthquakes struck the South American country in close succession, according to a CBS News report published June 27, 2026. The search, driven by relatives and neighbors as well as responders on the ground, is ongoing about three days after the temblors.

In interviews featured in the report, residents described returning to damaged areas and scanning collapsed structures for signs of life. Several people characterized their efforts as a long-term commitment rather than a brief window, emphasizing that they will keep looking “as long as it takes.” The report describes the searching as both physically demanding and emotionally sustained, with families treating every possible lead as urgent.

The report frames the emergency as part of a broader response effort that includes rescue teams moving through heavily affected neighborhoods. With buildings damaged and debris forming obstacles, responders and community members are reportedly working in the same spaces where people fear that trapped residents may remain undiscovered. The continuing search underscores how quickly information can become scarce in disaster conditions, leaving families to rely on direct searches and close communication with others in their communities.

CBS News also highlights that the earthquakes occurred three days before the June 27 reporting date and that they were back-to-back events. The sequencing has complicated recovery, with damage from one quake potentially worsening conditions produced by the other, and with residents describing the aftermath as a period of sustained uncertainty. For people trying to locate loved ones, the gap between the earthquakes and the latest search efforts can increase anxiety, particularly when they do not know whether those missing were injured during the first quake, the second quake, or both.

The report presents the search as a community-wide undertaking rather than an activity limited to official teams. Residents described helping by clearing rubble, checking spaces around damaged homes, and listening for indications that someone might still be trapped. Their accounts also reflect the practical reality that formal rescue resources can be stretched across multiple sites, especially when earthquakes affect more than one area.

As operations continue into the third day after the earthquakes, the report indicates that families remain focused on finding survivors. In the absence of verified updates for individual missing people within the report itself, the “as long as it takes” posture captures what many disaster survivors and relatives described as a defining priority: keeping search activities alive long enough for people who may still be reachable to be found.