CARACAS — The death toll from earthquakes that struck central Venezuela climbed past 1,500 on Monday, the country's civil protection agency said, as rescue teams continued searching collapsed buildings near La Guaira and Caracas. The toll is expected to rise further.

The disaster began last week when powerful tremors devastated coastal and central regions, flattening homes and severing roads. A magnitude-4.1 aftershock near La Guaira over the weekend intensified public fear and complicated recovery work, according to Venezuela's Foundation for Seismological Research.

International assistance accelerated over the weekend, with Miami emerging as a key staging point for US humanitarian supplies, relief organisations said. The Red Cross and other aid agencies reported shortages of medical equipment, clean water and temporary shelter for tens of thousands displaced.

President Nicolás Maduro's government faced mounting pressure over the pace of the response. Residents in worst-hit districts told local broadcasters that rescue crews had been slow to reach outlying areas. The government said it had mobilised the armed forces and requested support from neighbouring countries and United Nations agencies.

Seismologists cautioned that further aftershocks remained likely in the coming days, and health authorities raised concerns about disease risks in crowded shelters. Authorities said the focus would shift toward restoring power and water as the search for survivors continued.