The tragedy hitting Venezuela shows no respite. The two earthquakes that shook the country more than a week ago have already left a toll of 2,595 dead and 12,400 injured, according to interim President Delcy Rodríguez. But the worst is in the number of missing: the United Nations estimates that some 50,000 people could be under the rubble or lost in the chaos following the quakes.
In a press conference, Rodríguez was blunt: «I said from the start: no one goes to a mass grave.» The official explained that the identification process of bodies is carried out through fingerprints, photographs, and, in extreme cases, forensic dental analysis. «We will not allow anyone to remain unidentified,» she stated, amid criticism over the disaster management.
The state of La Guaira was the hardest hit. There, nearly 200 buildings completely collapsed, and NASA estimates indicate that up to 58,000 structures may have been affected. Rescue efforts continue, with about 3,000 rescuers working in the most critical areas. So far, only 13 people have been rescued alive, while specialized teams search among rubble and unstable structures.
Rodríguez defended the official response: «You can count the hours» between the earthquakes and the deployment of personnel. She said that in the first 24 hours, 4,000 officials arrived; by 48 hours, there were already 11,000; and now they total 19,000. However, humanitarian aid arrives intermittently, and thousands of families remain in makeshift camps or outdoors, cooking in front of their destroyed homes.
United Nations agencies have set up three temporary shelters in La Guaira, with capacity to house the displaced for a month, though continuity will depend on the evolution of the crisis. According to official figures, 12,841 people lost their homes, but the UN raises that number to nearly 16,000 displaced, many of whom wander through squares and public spaces.
Meanwhile, desperation grows among the families of the missing. On the streets of La Guaira, residents crowd around food and water distribution points, while volunteers hand out clothing and donated items. The scene is nightmarish: collapsed buildings, rubble everywhere, and a smell of death that lingers.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, but criticism of Nicolás Maduro’s government continues. Human rights organizations denounce a lack of transparency in the figures and a delayed response. However, Rodríguez insists: «There is no time for criticism; it is time to save lives.»
The earthquakes, which reached devastating magnitudes, have left an indelible mark on Venezuela. As rescuers continue their work, the entire country awaits answers and, above all, a miracle to bring more people out alive from the rubble.
Para mí esto huele a más de lo mismo, el imperio yanki siempre metiendo la cola en Venezuela. Me parece que los muertos son víctimas de su guerra no declarada, mientras la derecha gorila festeja. Yo creo que la revolución cuida a su pueblo, ni una fosa común. Viva Venezuela carajo.
Para mí esto es una masacre encubierta. 2.595 muertos y 50 mil desaparecidos, y la dictadura chavista sigue con sus cuentos. Delcy Rodríguez dice que no habrá fosas comunes, pero yo creo que ya las tienen preparadas. Los rescatistas son héroes, pero los políticos se llenan los bolsillos mientras el pueblo se pudre. ¡Basta de socialismo asesino!