Photos of missing persons now cover the outer walls of Miguel Pérez Carreño Hospital in Caracas, Venezuela, as families continue searching for loved ones following a powerful earthquake. Thousands remain unaccounted for, prompting relatives to move from one hospital to another in hopes of finding survivors. Many of the missing are residents of the coastal area of La Guaira.

Eyewitness Yerinker Bermúdez, who narrowly survived the quake, said he is now searching for friends who lived in his collapsed building. He expressed frustration at the government’s lack of assistance, saying that neighbors and volunteers have been conducting rescue operations with their bare hands. Outside the hospital, crowds wait anxiously, scanning patient lists for familiar names.

Inside the hospital, conditions remain tense. Doctor Santiago Casanova said the first few days were extremely difficult, though the number of injured has since declined. However, he cautioned that the decrease is not a positive sign, as the chances of finding survivors under the rubble are diminishing with time.