Caracas buries its dead amid collapse, grief, and state absence

In Caracas, families are grappling with profound grief and the stark reality of state absence as they bury their dead. On the popular Cementerio General del Sur, epitaphs like "My prince" and "The love of my life" are etched onto plaster niches, marking the final resting places of victims from a tragedy that occurred on San Juan Day. Relatives used thin sticks to write these last messages in a ritual filled with pain and tears.

This cemetery, known for its legends and past history of grave robbers seeking gold and bronze, now accommodates victims from the La Guaira disaster. Among its notable figures are the father of acting president Delcy Rodríguez and politician Aristóbulo Istúriz. The burial area for the catastrophe's victims is in a humbler section, lacking the machinery to place coffins in upper niches, requiring only a rudimentary wooden ladder.

Sources indicate that a burial plot in this section costs around $200, with the transfer from the morgue to the cemetery potentially reaching $400. The law of supply and demand has driven prices up, leaving little room for solidarity. One family from Mérida recounted their struggle to transport three deceased relatives to El Vigía, a 700-kilometer journey. The initial quote for each transfer was $1,200, but the family could only afford $1,300 in total. Only the goodwill of one driver, despite opposition from others, allowed the transfer to proceed at that reduced price.

The article mentions the "devastating twin earthquakes of V" but the text appears to be cut off, suggesting the context of the tragedy is related to a natural disaster. The state's disengagement from these matters has left families to navigate these overwhelming costs and logistical challenges alone.

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Eres el mío