By JUAN PABLO ARRAEZ and ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press
With the window for finding survivors shrinking fast, Venezuelans combed through more ruins of buildings toppled by last week's devastating back-to-back earthquakes. Attention also turned to the country's humanitarian crisis that could persist for years. Relief organizations say the first 72 hours after a natural disaster is the most crucial time period for rescues, though survival can be extended if people have access to food and water. Five days after the twin quakes, questions loomed about whether the cash-strapped government will be able to coordinate the effort needed to care for thousands of people who have been left homeless. The death toll stood at more than 1,700 people.
Small communities that bore the brunt of a strong earthquake on the coast of far Northern California remain without power and under boil-water advisories. Most of the 72,000 Humboldt County customers who lost electricity when the quake struck before dawn Tuesday had power restored by evening. Pacific Gas & Electric's website shows about 14,000 still without electricity early Wednesday. Most of the remaining outages are in the communities of Fortuna, Ferndale and Rio Dell. Boil-water advisories were issued for Rio Dell and parts of Fortuna because of damaged water systems. The earthquake registered at a magnitude of 6.4 and has produced aftershocks.
