“Silencio” the rescuers scream turning towards the road with their fists up in the air, motioning to everyone to remain silent.
The vehicles on the road stop plying. People stop talking. The diggers fall silent.
A rescuer puts his ear to a hole they’ve just managed to drill through a concrete slab. Another one shines a torch into it.
They’re listening to see if they can hear any sounds of survivors calling from under the rubble of a 12-storey building that stood by the side of a busy road in the coastal town of La Guaira.
It’s one of the areas worst hit by the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday last week and killed at least 1,700 people.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has called the earthquakes the “most brutal natural catastrophe” in Venezuela’s history.
Standing by the side of the collapsed structure, Miguel Oscar Nunez holds his breath, huddled together with other families who had loved ones in the building. Miguel’s only child – 34-year-old son Angel – lived in the building.
Moments of anticipation pass by, but the rescuers hear nothing. The silence ends and work resumes.
“My son, like hundreds of others is trapped under the rubble. But we need more support from authorities urgently to dig them out. It’s possible that the earthquake has not killed him, but can you imagine if he is killed because of the negligence of the authorities,” Miguel Oscar says, anger showing on his face.
Kevin Montilla’s home was also in the building. He was away at work, but his wife Luzmary and 16-year-old daughter Jhoerliyzmar were at home when the earthquake struck.
“The rescue operation started very late and it’s been slow. Initially it was only people who live in the community who came in to help. The police just came to check, but they didn’t help. The government’s response has been frustrating and impotent,” the 34-year-old says.
When we visited the site, rescue teams from Venezuela and Colombia were conducting operations. Two diggers, as well as a crane that was lifting up concrete slabs was also there.
But the families waiting by the roadside said precious days had been wasted before this effort started.
“I have not lost hope but I feel devastated. Nature’s law is that a father should die before his son. Imagine if your son dies suddenly,” says Miguel.
bbc.com