The family of 70-year-old Venezuelan Félix Tovar is collecting donations of tools to help volunteers dig through the rubble of La Almendrina Bakery in Playa Grande, La Guaira, where he was when the earthquakes struck Venezuela. Félix has lived in Brazil for nearly 20 years but split his time between the two countries.
His children, Daniel, 28, and Elibel, 38, have been organizing the search since the day of the disaster. Elibel criticizes the lack of government support: "Since day one, all we've had are volunteers, some of whom don't even have family here. We haven't received any help from the state."Félix was staying in the area on his way to Simón Bolívar International Airport and went to the bakery shortly before the earthquakes. The last signal from his cellphone was recorded in the area at 7:19 p.m. on the day of the disaster.
The family also searched Bolipuerto, which has been turned into an open-air morgue, but was unable to locate Félix's body. Elibel highlights the solidarity of strangers: "What makes me feel better is knowing there are people who aren't even related to me and are still here helping."
At least 2,595 people have been confirmed dead, more than 11,000 have been injured, and 12,841 have been displaced by the earthquakes. According to the UN, the number of missing people could exceed 50,000.
