More than three dozen people, including two 11-year-old boys rescued separately on Sunday, have been pulled alive from earthquake debris in Venezuela over the weekend. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced that 33 individuals were rescued from collapsed buildings following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country days prior. The rescues offer glimmers of hope as the nation grapples with a devastating natural catastrophe.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction and trapping an unknown number of people beneath rubble. The quakes led to the collapse of nearly 800 buildings, leaving families in desperate search efforts, some digging by hand in hopes of finding loved ones.

Among the rescued were the two 11-year-old boys, found hours apart on Sunday. One boy, identified as Moises, was extricated after being buried approximately 3 meters (9.8 feet) deep. Rescuers worked for six hours on a high-precision operation to reach him. Reports indicated he was found near his deceased mother and sister. A video shared by officials purported to show the rescue of a second 11-year-old boy in the hard-hit town of Caraballeda.

Despite the passage of the critical first 72 hours for survival, rescue efforts continued, with aid agencies and officials suggesting that survivors could still be found, particularly if they had access to food and water. UN Resident Co-ordinator Gianluca Rampolla stated that experts believe finding more survivors is still possible, though time is rapidly diminishing.

Rodríguez has been actively sharing updates and rescue videos on social media, aiming to foster optimism amidst the tragedy. International teams, including French and American rescuers, were also involved in operations, notably saving a father and his teenage son from the rubble in Caraballeda.

However, frustration has surfaced regarding the government's response, with some individuals and first responders describing it as slow and inefficient. A firefighter in Caraballeda noted the overwhelming task, stating that dozens of buildings remained unsearched and that there were insufficient personnel to cover all areas.

As of Sunday, the confirmed death toll had reached at least 1,450, a figure Rodríguez described as the most brutal natural catastrophe in Venezuela's history. The ongoing uncertainty weighs heavily on relatives of the tens of thousands still unaccounted for, who face a fifth night of anxious waiting.

The scale of the disaster and the ongoing rescue operations highlight the immense challenges faced by Venezuela. While the successful rescues provide moments of relief, the vast number of missing persons underscores the profound loss and the long road to recovery ahead for the affected communities.