Families ask not to demolish buildings without recovering bodies after Venezuela earthquake

Twelve days after earthquakes struck Venezuela, families in La Guaira, the most devastated area, are urgently requesting a halt to the demolition of buildings teetering on the brink of collapse. Their plea stems from the belief that bodies of loved ones still remain trapped within the structures.

Officials from the Armed Forces, Civil Protection, and other bodies have been identifying buildings for demolition or habitation across the seven affected states. However, Michell Gutiérrez, 30, expressed her anguish, stating, "We cannot allow them to demolish this building when there are still so many bodies of family members to recover – alive or dead." Gutiérrez is desperately searching for her father, whose body she believes is in a building in Catia La Mar. She, like others, has not received government aid and relies on international rescue groups, including a team from Mexico.

"I have nothing, but the truth is I don't care about that. I just want to recover my father and give him a burial and end this suffering because being here for twelve days is agony," Gutiérrez told EFE, her voice filled with distress. Iryuri Wisi is also searching the same area for her sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews, aged 16 and an infant. She complained about the delayed arrival of aid and stated that governmental assistance has yet to reach their locality, even reporting a lack of support from militarized police.

"I would have preferred to die there than to continue with this torment... we are abandoned," Wisi lamented, questioning what assistance President Delcy Rodríguez has provided. She described the fear of entering the unstable buildings to search for her family, fearing further collapse. According to the latest bulletin from Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez, at least 3,535 people have died and 16,740 have been injured by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on June 24. Authorities have not provided updated figures for the missing since June 25, but a citizen initiative, 'Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela,' has registered over 30,000 people who have not been contacted. Many international rescue teams have departed, leaving behind buildings filled with the unknown.

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Yo hubiese preferido haberme muerto allí, que seguir con ese suplicio que uno tiene (...) estamos desasistidos, que diga la presidenta Delcy Rodríguez en qué nos ha ayudado, yo me siento desasistida y sin miedo ya a nada, el miedo es este, el miedo está aquí, cada vez que se mete mi familiar, mi hijo, mi hermano, se meten allí a buscar a mi hermana o a su familia y se termine de desplomar eso (edificio)