One week after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela's Caribbean coast, over 1,700 people are confirmed dead and tens of thousands remain missing. Civil society databases report more than 40,000 people unaccounted for, as desperate relatives scour rubble-strewn streets with photos of loved ones. The government's official statistics are widely distrusted, and military police patrols have been met with suspicion rather than gratitude.
Community-Led Search Efforts
In the absence of effective state response, Venezuelans have banded together to create websites and search parties to find missing family members. Clavel Rangel, a Venezuelan journalist reporting for the Guardian, described scenes of citizens walking through devastated areas holding photos and asking for help. “People feel abandoned,” she said, noting that military police with covered faces and guns have not focused on rescue operations.
On Monday, 21-year-old Aaron Levi Cantillo Vargas was rescued after 106 hours trapped under rubble, offering a rare glimmer of hope. But with each passing day, the chances of finding more survivors diminish.
International Aid and Tensions
The United States has pledged over $300 million in aid, including water, sanitation, food, and medical care. US Marines are working to repair the port in La Guaira, the epicenter of the quake, to facilitate deliveries. However, tensions persist: Venezuela's security chief Diosdado Cabello, who has a $25 million US bounty on his head, was filmed berating US rescue teams, sparking outrage.
Despite this, Rangel noted that most Venezuelans are grateful for international help. “Without the US and all the international aid, this tragedy could be much, much worse,” she said.
Opacity and Accountability
The disaster has highlighted Venezuela's lack of transparency. “We haven't had proper health data for about 10 years,” Rangel said. “We don't have proper economic data. We haven't even had a proper census since 2011.” Many buildings that collapsed were constructed under the Chavez and Maduro administrations, allegedly with cheap materials. Rangel called for a proper investigation into corruption in construction.
The UN is seeking 10,000 body bags to help manage the disaster, as mortuaries are overwhelmed with bodies arriving in cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles.
Surreal Cooperation
Rangel described the sight of US and Venezuelan forces working together as surreal, but said underlying tensions remain. “Many think that America should be doing more to promote democracy,” she said. “It would give us the possibility of having a government that is able to respond to this kind of tragedy.”
