East LA Venezuelans gather to pray for earthquake victims, collect donations after deadly disaster

Dozens of people gathered for Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Sanctuary in East Los Angeles on Sunday morning, praying for loved ones in Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastated the country’s northern coast.

For many Venezuelan families in Southern California, the wait for information has been heartbreaking as rescue crews continue a desperate search through the rubble.

“I’m very emotional. I see the news. I see what happened, and it really is devastating,” said Daniel Perdomo, who is Venezuelan. “I mean, there’s people in the rubble. Nico, one of our second cousins, he hasn’t been found yet. They found his family not alive. It’s five of them. This one body, we still don’t know where it is. A lot of children, they’ve been rescued, and their parents have been victims of this tragedy.”

The Mass served as an open invitation for people to come together and support one another while they wait to hear about their loved ones in Venezuela. Some prayed for family still in the country, while others prayed for everyone caught in the disaster.

“This is when your heart just gets broken into pieces, and out of joy, and out of sadness, this is who we are. We, Venezuelans, are phenomenal,” said Laura Adjunta. “We love each other when we see each other, and I think that’s what community is about, right?”

The earthquakes struck on Wednesday, with a magnitude-7.2 quake followed minutes later by a magnitude-7.5 quake. The earthquakes brought down hundreds of buildings, trapped tens of thousands of people and left entire neighborhoods in ruins.

Four days later, rescuers were still searching building after building for any sign of life as the death toll climbed past 1,400. More than 3,000 people are injured, and some 50,000 people are still unaccounted for. Officials are now hoping a surge of foreign aid and rescue groups pouring into the country will help speed up recovery efforts.

There have been moments of hope, with people still being pulled from the rubble alive four days later.

READ MORE: LA County firefighters arrive in Venezuela to assist in search, rescue and damage assessment efforts

Los Angeles County firefighters are in Venezuela to assist with rescue and relief efforts, according to officials.

California’s USA-2 Urban Search and Rescue Team is among those helping. Los Angeles County dispatched a 73-person crew to Venezuela on Friday, including K-9 units and doctors. The team is working around the clock alongside local and international first responders.

“Right now, Venezuela needs the world, and the world is here to answer the call,” one responder said. “Any toll this significant on human life is a significant one, and we feel for the Venezuelan people, and we're also here for them."

More than 2,600 international rescue workers and nearly 140 search dogs are helping with the massive operation.

SEE ALSO: DTLA Venezuelan restaurant organizes earthquake relief effort as owner's parents remain missing

"I don't have time for crying." The owner of a DTLA Venezuelan restaurant is doing all she can to help victims while her parents remain missing in Venezuela.

Multiple donation drives are also being held in Southern California. Full Arepas in downtown Los Angeles is accepting donations through Tuesday and putting together boxes to be shipped to Venezuela. Organizers said donations large and small are welcome, with an urgent need for medical supplies, vitamins and first aid products.

More information on how you can help is available on the All for Venezuela Instagram page.