<p>Five days after twin earthquakes devastated residential areas in Venezuela, officials warn that the reported death toll of 1,719 may significantly undercount the true number of casualties as more bodies are discovered and the search continues.</p>
<p>Rescue teams and authorities report ongoing recovery efforts in hard-hit locations, with coffins and bodies brought to improvised morgues in La Guaira and torrid conditions slowing the operation. Officials and UN relief spokespeople say the death toll is rising as new victims are found, and the final tally is uncertain.</p>
<p>There is no reliable official figure for the missing, and the extent of debris from tall buildings, coupled with a shortage of heavy machinery, complicates searches. Some forensic doctors estimate the toll could reach several thousand, while a widely cited unofficial missing-person tally has shown tens of thousands unaccounted for, though verification is difficult.</p>
<p>Experts caution that the full casualty picture may take weeks to emerge. They note that even when rescue efforts shift from searching for survivors to removing rubble, casualty counts tend to rise, and final estimates can be significantly higher than initial tallies.</p>
<p>In the meantime, humanitarian agencies have begun large-scale preparedness efforts, including procuring body bags and coordinating with authorities, as search teams continue to locate survivors and determine the extent of the damage across La Guaira and other affected areas. Officials emphasize the need for heavy machinery and extended recovery operations to reach the most severely damaged buildings. </p>
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