Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's Caribbean coast last Wednesday, leaving over 1,700 officially dead and tens of thousands missing. Communities have organized their own search efforts, accusing government forces of failing to provide adequate assistance.
Earthquake Devastation
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes hit seconds apart, collapsing entire apartment blocks in towns and cities along the coast. In La Guaira, a port city near the main international airport, roads have fissured and homes destroyed. Fishers off the coast captured the moment on video, showing plumes of dust where buildings once stood.
Clavel Rangel, a Venezuelan journalist reporting for the Guardian, was in the country for her birthday when the quakes struck. She described huddling with her family under a kitchen arch as the shaking lasted nearly two minutes. "We all thought we were going to die," she said.
Official Statistics vs. Reality
Official figures show more than 1,700 deaths, but civil society databases report over 40,000 missing, according to Rangel. Mortuaries are overwhelmed, with bodies arriving in cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles. The UN is sourcing 10,000 body bags to help manage the disaster.
"It is very important not to trust the official statistics, especially in Venezuela," Rangel said. "Over the past 10 to 15 years, opacity has been the rule in this country."
Government Response Criticized
Heavily armed military police patrol the worst-hit areas, their faces covered with balaclavas. Many Venezuelans are suspicious due to the police's history of repressing opponents under former dictator Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by US forces earlier this year.
"The military police have been very successful at repressing people fighting for democracy or their human rights, we have not seen the same effort trying to save people under the rubble," Rangel said. "People feel abandoned."
International Aid Arrives
The US has pledged over $300 million in water, sanitation, food, and medical care. US Marines are repairing the port in La Guaira to aid supply delivery. Search teams from Argentina to the UK have arrived with sound detectors, dogs, and thermal imaging equipment.
"Without the US and all the international aid, this tragedy could be much, much worse," Rangel said. "At least the Venezuelan government is letting them into the country."
Rescue Efforts Continue
On Monday, 21-year-old Aaron Levi Cantillo Vargas was rescued after 106 hours trapped under rubble. But hope is fading. Aftershocks, including a 5.2 tremor on Monday, continue to terrorize survivors.
Long-Term Concerns
Venezuela once had the most advanced seismic monitoring in Latin America, now in disrepair. Rangel noted that the country lacks proper health, economic, and census data, hampering aid efforts. "We need freedom of expression and the right to demand accountability," she said. "Some buildings that collapsed were built by Chavez and Maduro using cheap materials. We need a proper investigation."
