We've seen survivors of other earthquakes rescued after a week under the rubble but it really is the first three days that matter most. Additionally, if people have suffered crushing injuries* even getting un-trapped is only the start of their recovery.
From the South China Morning Post, June 27:
With at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing, a critical 72-hour window for rescuing survivors has almost closed
The situation has grown more desperate by the hour in Venezuela as people dig through the rubble of collapsed homes and flat blocks three days after the devastating one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, knowing time is running out to find survivors.
Authorities announced on Friday night that they would block access to La Guaira, the epicentre of the destruction, as chaos and traffic began to hamper search efforts. Officials said anyone who wanted to enter would now have to seek official permits, but provided few details of who would be allowed in.
Venezuelans took the search for missing loved ones into their own hands, citing a scarcity of government rescuers, as the human toll of Wednesday’s quakes climbed to at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing. People reported seeing few state rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas, despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.
Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours to be a crucial time frame to retrieve people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water.
“Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”....
Crush injuries of soft tissues release fat, plasma and other liquids, and toxins which head for the kidneys. From Wolters Kluwer's UpToDate...
