The smell of death grows stronger as we climb to the top of a collapsed building in La Guaira, a Venezuelan state devastated by back-to-back earthquakes in June. Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi and I have arrived with the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group to document the aftermath of this natural disaster.

Qatari rescue workers, alongside the Syrian White Helmets, are struggling to separate bodies from concrete and tiles under the intense midday sun. The death toll has steadily climbed since June 24, now standing at more than 4,300. The United Nations estimates 50,000 Venezuelans are missing in the rubble.

Janet Viana, a 72-year-old survivor, hopes to recover her son's body. She told us the government has provided no assistance or heavy machinery. Officials informed residents the building would be demolished in a few days. “I hope I can get my son’s body back before they tear it all down,” she said. “What else can we hope for when there’s been no response?”

While the earthquakes have sparked public backlash against Venezuela's socialist government, supporters point to official efforts. The military has secured several sites, and the government set up an aid station with food, water, medical supplies, and tools. La Guaira Governor Jose Alejandro Teran claimed the government's response was immediate and that workers rescued more than 6,000 people.

However, many Venezuelans say they had to take rescue efforts into their own hands. Javier Villegas, 30, has been searching for his aunt daily. He said the government “won’t send anyone in because they will be at risk.” “Yes, I know they will be at risk, but there are people still in there,” he added. “I haven’t lost hope that she will be rescued alive.”

As days pass, more bodies are discovered. Quicklime is widely used to mask the smell. One day, excavation paused to recover a woman's body. Her son approached the camera crew and asked them not to film his mother's remains. “She is my mother,” he said. The scale of the tragedy overwhelmed even the journalists.

Source: www.aljazeera.com