Looting and theft plague Venezuela's earthquake-hit zone, compounding tragedy

Amidst the devastation of Venezuela's recent earthquakes, a new tragedy has unfolded in the coastal state of La Guaira: widespread looting and theft. The area, already struggling with the aftermath of the tremors that have left thousands dead or missing, is now grappling with opportunistic crime.

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Is it fair that our people are devouring each other? They even took the wiring. They were stepping over his body to loot. It was a supermarket.

Videos circulating on social media show people ransacking collapsed stores, carrying away appliances, and looting supermarkets and pharmacies. Residents report that even the wiring inside small shops has been stolen. Some attribute these acts to "disaster opportunism," while others point to the extreme hunger and destitution faced by those who have lost everything in a country already mired in chronic crisis.

"Is it fair that our people are devouring each other?" lamented Maria Esther Bernal, a 71-year-old who saw her rented shops looted. She described people stepping over a dead body in a looted supermarket to continue stealing. The anger among survivors is palpable, fueled by frustration over the slow and inadequate aid provided by the authorities.

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There's nothing here. They stole everything: our clothes, shoes, utensils, pots, cups, glasses.

Survivors are demanding not only rescue efforts but also improved security and essential supplies like food, water, and medicine. The government has militarized the state and restricted access, requiring safe-conduct passes. However, many feel abandoned, with reports of looting continuing even as rescue operations are underway. The situation in La Guaira echoes the devastation of the 1999 landslides, which also left thousands dead and highlighted the vulnerability of the region.

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We found a disaster. We were removing bodies, and at that moment, they were looting. People were going crazy, looting, taking everything.