Venezuela’s acting president has rejected criticism of her government’s response to twin earthquakes which killed more than 2,000 people.

As public criticism mounted over the pace and efficiency of Venezuela’s earthquake response, the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez issued its first public defense of the operation with her 180-day mandate as interim leader expiring.

Gavin Brown, Ian Hodgson and Brian Richards travelled to South America after the twin earthquakes struck on 24 June.

U.S.-backed acting President Delcy Rodríguez lashed out at critics who say authorities reacted too slowly to the twin quakes, which have killed at least 2,595 people.

The administration proclaimed itself a leader of the Western Hemisphere under the "Donroe Doctrine." A natural disaster has put that to the test.

Here's a look at some of the major developments since major back-to-back earthquakes rocked Venezuela on June 24, devastating parts of a country already reeling from crisis after crisis.

As public criticism mounted over Venezuela's earthquake response, the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez defended the operation.

A 6-year-old dog named Buddy was pulled alive on Thursday, after spending eight agonizing days trapped beneath his collapsed home in the Venezuelan city of Caraballeda.

For 10 minutes, interrupted only by the occasional ​cellphone ring or shout from a rescuer, people strained their ears for any sound of survivors of the twin earthquakes that last week destroyed six of the eight towers that made up the Hugo Chavez complex,

The USS Fort Lauderdale and Marine Corps vehicles support Venezuela earthquake relief as the death toll nears 2,000 and continues to rise.