Families Demand Help Recovering Venezuela Quake Victims Amidst Winding Down Rescue Operations

In the aftermath of Venezuela's devastating double earthquakes, frustrated families are clamoring for help to recover the bodies of their loved ones. As rescue operations begin to wind down, uncertainty looms over the final death toll, with authorities reporting 2,645 fatalities and more than 12,000 injured. The coastal town of La Guaira bore the brunt of the disaster, with numerous residential buildings flattened.

Nine days after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes struck, hope of finding survivors is fading. While some reports emerged of a possible adult voice heard and a 9-year-old boy found alive, foreign rescuers expressed doubts about any remaining survivors. The UN estimates that as many as 50,000 people may be missing. Many survivors are left homeless, sleeping in streets or makeshift shelters.

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Until I recover the bodies, I won't be at peace.

Frustration boiled over in Caraballeda, La Guaira, where families attempting to retrieve bodies clashed with those wanting to clear the area for potential rescue. Jose Francisco Liendo, searching for his father and sister, stated, "Until I recover the bodies, I won't be at peace." He pleaded, "Don't let the machines come and take them away like garbage." The government's response has drawn criticism, with residents in La Guaira noting the delayed arrival of rescuers and highlighting the initial efforts by neighbors and volunteers.

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez suggested that finding survivors remains a possibility, though unlikely after nine days. Rodriguez assumed interim power six months prior following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation. The government's handling of the tragedy has been a point of contention, with many locals feeling abandoned until international brigades arrived.

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Don't let the machines come and take them away like garbage.