Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, is committed to saving as many lives as possible as the death toll from the country’s worst earthquake in over a century has nearly doubled. Frustration is mounting over the slow government response.
Rodríguez’s brother, Jorge, the national assembly president, reported that the death toll has reached 920, with nearly 3,000 injured. During a visit to La Guaira, the hardest-hit area, she noted that foreign search and rescue teams are beginning to arrive.
“We stand in solidarity with the victims’ families,” Rodríguez stated outside the ruins of a demolished eight-floor hotel following the twin quakes.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher informed AFP that over 50,000 people remain missing after the quakes flattened buildings in northern Venezuela.
Survivors are taking matters into their own hands, using bare hands to rescue loved ones from the debris.
Paramedic Rotny Bombart spent five hours searching for his mother in a collapsed tower. “It had 15 floors, but now there’s nothing left,” he said, after receiving treatment for an injury sustained during the search.
Bombart noted that no government emergency workers arrived initially, forcing locals to dig through rubble with basic tools. “You can’t prepare for this,” he recalled, describing the horrific sights he encountered.
Searcher Diego González reported spending hours rescuing his cousin from the debris of an apartment building. “We worked with our bare hands. Tools are essential, but Catia La Mar is devastated,” he shared.
The international community is rallying behind Venezuela, with reports of foreign nationals among the deceased, including Portuguese, Chinese, Brazilian, Spanish, and Italian-Venezuelan victims.
A British search and rescue team has been dispatched, comprising personnel and search dogs, along with £2 million in humanitarian aid.
King Charles and Queen Camilla expressed their deep sadness over the earthquakes, sending heartfelt condolences to those affected and admiration for the resilience of the Venezuelan people.
In response to the crisis, the US has mobilized over 250 personnel, including specialized search teams, to assist in rescue efforts. Other countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Spain are also offering humanitarian aid.
However, 36 hours after the earthquakes, many areas still lack government assistance, revealing the unpreparedness of authorities due to years of economic mismanagement.
Footage from La Guaira’s hospital highlights the deterioration of Venezuela’s public health system. Patients waited on the floor for treatment amid the chaos.
Orlando Pérez, a Latin America expert, noted that the government’s failure to respond effectively during a natural disaster exposes its inefficiencies. Despite being resource-rich, Venezuela’s infrastructure remains inadequate.
Opposition activist Jesús Armas criticized the lack of investment in emergency services, emphasizing the need for better preparation given the country’s seismic history. “We should have been ready,” he said.
He called for international support, pointing out that rescue workers were operating without proper equipment.
The ongoing migration crisis has further strained resources, with nearly 8 million citizens having fled the country, leaving a shortage of essential personnel.
Calls are increasing for the military to take a more active role in rescue efforts. Opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa questioned the lack of military mobilization in response to this crisis, urging their involvement.
Pérez expressed confusion over the apparent inactivity of Venezuela’s armed forces, noting their capabilities have diminished. The absence of a coordinated response from the military is striking.
