Death Toll from Venezuela Earthquakes Rises to 589 as International Rescue Efforts Intensify

International rescue teams have ramped up search operations for people trapped under the rubble following two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela on Wednesday. Authorities say the death toll has risen to 589, while nearly 3,000 people have been injured.

Several countries across the Americas, including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Cuba and the United States, along with the United Nations, have continued to send rescue teams and humanitarian aid to assist with relief efforts.

Venezuela's Health Minister, Carlos Alvarado, said the country's hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. Authorities fear that hundreds of people may still be trapped beneath collapsed buildings, prompting rescue crews to accelerate their efforts in a race against time.