A Canadian teacher from Toronto, living in Venezuela says residents are digging through rubble by hand and sleeping in parks as search efforts proceed days after a pair of powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the country.<\/p>\n
The death toll from Wednesday\u2019s 7.2- and seven.5-magnitude earthquakes has climbed to a minimum of 920, while greater than 51,000 people remain unaccounted for, in keeping with Venezuelan authorities.<\/p>\n
Heather McKay, a Canadian who teaches on the British School Caracas, was leaving her apartment to satisfy a friend for dinner when the primary quake struck.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just like the ocean, almost just type of doing this forwards and backwards (motion),\u201d McKay told Global News.<\/p>\n
McKay said she rushed away from nearby buildings once she realized what was happening.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw a constructing and the hearth escape\u2026 people were just running down,\u201d she said. \u201cThere have been just holes in so many apartment buildings. It was absolutely intense.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Her own apartment constructing was damaged within the earthquake, forcing her to hunt shelter with a colleague.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy constructing has huge holes in the underside. A whole wall is missing near the staircase,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
McKay added that many residents are still afraid to return to their homes amid concerns about structural damage and aftershocks.<\/p>\n
Authorities announced Friday they’d restrict access to La Guaira, the epicentre of the destruction, as rescue crews proceed trying to find survivors.<\/p>\n
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Greater than 14,000 military and police personnel have been deployed to the world.<\/p>\n
But McKay said many rescue efforts are being carried out by atypical residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndividuals are asking, \u2018Do you’ve got hammers? Do you’ve got gloves? Do you’ve got helmets?’\u201d she said. \u201cLoads of the rescue efforts have just been regular residents wearing motorcycle helmets and digging with their hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
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McKay said many individuals escaped with little greater than the garments they were wearing.<\/p>\n
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