Key facts
- Venezuelans are struggling to find survivors and receive aid after earthquakes.
- Residents are leading rescue efforts in many areas.
- A magnitude 4.6 aftershock occurred on Monday.
- Citizens accuse the government of negligence and apathy.
- The death toll from the earthquakes has surpassed 1,700 people.
- Tens of thousands of people are reported missing.
- Over 100 deported Venezuelans are missing after their hotel collapsed.
- Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado vows to return to Venezuela to aid victims.
- China has pledged US$14.7 million in earthquake relief to Venezuela.
- A father and son were rescued alive after being trapped for four days.
Venezuelan citizens are facing immense challenges in the aftermath of a series of devastating earthquakes, with many struggling to find survivors and receive adequate government aid. Residents in affected areas, particularly La Guaira, describe a slow and insufficient response from authorities, leading them to organize self-rescue efforts. The death toll from the earthquakes has surpassed 1,700, with initial reports indicating tens of thousands missing. Adding to the distress, a magnitude 4.6 aftershock struck northern Venezuela on Monday, causing further panic and disrupting ongoing rescue operations.
Complicating the crisis, over 100 Venezuelans who were recently deported from the U.S. are now missing. These individuals were reportedly staying at a government-run hotel that collapsed during the seismic events, making rescue and identification efforts extremely difficult. In the midst of this crisis, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, currently in Panama, has vowed to do whatever it takes to return to Venezuela to assist with recovery efforts. She accuses the government of blocking her return and plans to coordinate citizen-led initiatives during the emergency.
International support is beginning to arrive, with China pledging an additional US$14.7 million in earthquake relief to Venezuela. This contribution is intended to bolster recovery efforts in the regions impacted by the seismic activity. Despite the dire situation and accusations of governmental negligence, there are also moments of hope, such as the successful extraction of a father and son who were trapped for four days in the rubble.