10 days after earthquakes, families await aid to retrieve bodies from collapsed buildings in Tanaguarena

Ten days after earthquakes devastated Tanaguarena in Venezuela's La Guaira state, families are still desperately waiting for heavy machinery to recover the bodies of loved ones trapped in collapsed buildings. The necessary equipment has yet to arrive, leaving residents to face the grim task of sifting through rubble themselves.

A citizen shared his anguish, explaining that his brother and sister-in-law are among those buried under the debris of the OPP25 building. "We are still here waiting for help to arrive to be able to remove the body of my brother and my sister-in-law," he said, pointing to a marked section of the pancaked structure. He described the scene as "disaster" following the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes.

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Here we are still waiting for help to arrive to be able to remove the body of my brother and my sister-in-law.

Residents have attempted to excavate with their bare hands and limited tools, but the unstable structures continue to shift, posing a significant danger. "We have gone in, but every time they hit, all that continues to give way, and it's a danger to ourselves," one individual explained. Despite the arrival of national and international support, the lack of specialized machinery has hampered rescue efforts, prolonging the agony for grieving families.

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We have gone in, but every time they hit, all that continues to give way, and it's a danger to ourselves.