Authorities Demolish Buildings in La Guaira Without Owner Consent, NGO Denounces 'Alarming Precedent'

In Playa Grande, La Guaira state, Venezuelan authorities forcibly evicted residents and demolished buildings on Saturday without notifying property owners. The structures, Samantha and Costa Dorada, were destroyed using dynamite, according to local reports and the NGO Un Mundo Sin Mordaza.

Un Mundo Sin Mordaza strongly condemned the demolitions, labeling them arbitrary actions that establish an "alarming precedent of helplessness for all property owners in La Guaira state." The NGO demanded an immediate halt to demolition activities until victims are fully rescued, transparent technical assessments are conducted, and prior consultation with property owners is guaranteed.

Affected residents stated they received no official information about the demolition process. Some were forcibly removed from their homes. Beyond the lack of transparency, residents voiced concerns about the fate of private property and the protocols applied to structures damaged by the recent earthquakes.

The article also references the devastating impact of recent earthquakes in Venezuela. A month prior, a double earthquake registered at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5. The official death toll had reached 5,546, with 16,740 injured and 17,907 displaced. Approximately 856 buildings were affected, and 190 collapsed. In response, the government had begun delivering housing to affected families.