In the days since two back-to-back earthquakes rocked Venezuela, those within the country have scrambled to pull people from the wreckage.
Those abroad are now scrambling to provide aid.
“Search and rescue efforts, there is medical equipment, there is obviously the food supply that is just not getting there. So, there are needs everywhere,” said Ivan Contrameastre, the president of the Venezuelan Canadian Society of B.C.
His organization has started an emergency fundraiser with money going towards agencies that are addressing those needs.
With the death toll growing exponentially and thousands still unaccounted for, Contrameastre says that the community here in Canada is devastated.
“There’s a lot of sadness, a lot of shock, a lot of worry about our family members in Venezuela. A lot of people are panicking because they couldn’t get hold of their family members,” he told CityNews.
That anguish is translating into action.
“Their response has been phenomenal. We have many people reaching out to us, trying to figure out how they can help,” Contrameastre added.
The Venezuelan Canadian Society of B.C. isn’t the only organization jumping in to help.
Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue has deployed seven members and two search dogs, Pele and Ruben, to the capital city of Caracas.
The group says it’s conducting a large-area search and rescue assessment and providing medical aid to the communities that have been hit hardest.
As they rush south, there is also fundraising to support their mission, saying that for the people still waiting to be found, every hour matters.