The death toll from Venezuela's powerful earthquakes has risen to more than 1,400 as rescue teams continue searching for survivors in the affected areas.
More than 1,600 rescue workers from overseas have arrived to assist following the twin earthquakes that struck on Wednesday.
The hardest-hit area is La Guaira state, where many families are still searching for missing relatives. Thousands of people have also been injured, while many others have been moved to emergency shelters.
Access to the main road between La Guaira and Caracas has been restricted to allow emergency vehicles to reach affected communities more quickly.
Power is gradually being restored, with about 60 percent of electricity services now back online.
The region has also been hit by a magnitude 5.6 aftershock, one of hundreds recorded since the disaster.
An opposition-run website has listed more than 55,000 people as unaccounted for, although the government says the number of confirmed missing people is much lower.
Pope Leo has offered prayers for the victims and rescue workers, while the United States and several other countries have sent aid and rescue teams to support Venezuela.
Source:rnz.co.nz
