Key facts
- A powerful earthquake has struck Venezuela, resulting in a rising death toll and significant damage.
- The country is currently navigating a period of political uncertainty following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro.
- Delcy Rodríguez is serving as the interim president, leading the nation's response to the disaster.
- Venezuela's infrastructure, particularly public housing, has suffered from years of neglect and underfunding.
- The government has accepted international aid offers, a shift from previous policies.
A powerful earthquake has struck Venezuela, causing a rising death toll and widespread devastation, adding to the nation's existing political uncertainty. The disaster comes less than six months after Nicolás Maduro, the country's leader since 2013, was arrested by US forces and taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. Maduro's ally and former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, has since governed the country, a situation that has frustrated opposition supporters who had hoped for opposition leader María Corina Machado to be put in charge under the Trump administration.
Rodríguez's response to the earthquake has highlighted both continuities and changes in Venezuela. She addressed the nation on state television more than two hours after the quakes, with official information initially being scarce due to damaged communication channels and restrictions on independent media. Flanked by her brother Jorge, president of the National Assembly, and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, Rodríguez appeared visibly shaken as she called for national unity. She declared a state of emergency and appointed General Juan Ernesto Sulbarán, commander of the National Guard, to lead the emergency response.
Analysts suggest that key government positions have long been held by high-ranking military officers, contributing to the deterioration of Venezuela's infrastructure due to a lack of specialized expertise. However, under the Trump administration's watch, Rodríguez has recently appointed civilians with relevant degrees to head the ministries of housing and electricity. Despite these changes, years of shortages, exacerbated by US sanctions and mismanagement, have left much of the public housing stock in poor condition, making it more susceptible to collapse. The prioritization of military equipment over civil protection resources has also been noted.
Rodríguez expressed gratitude for international aid offers, specifically mentioning US President Donald Trump and his government for their support. She also acknowledged assistance from the presidents of the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, as well as the president of Chile. This openness to accepting foreign help marks a significant departure from Maduro's policies, which typically only accepted aid from ideological allies. The acceptance of aid offers a glimmer of hope for Venezuelans facing devastation and uncertainty.