Venezuela focuses on debris removal and body recovery as international rescuers depart

Yellow machinery has arrived in the earthquake-devastated streets of La Guaira, Venezuela, to expedite the removal of debris and the recovery of bodies. Most international rescue teams have now withdrawn, leaving Venezuelan volunteers, firefighters, national civil defense, and local residents to continue the arduous work in collapsed buildings.

Sebastián Mocarquer, a representative from the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (Undac) team, explained that international teams began demobilizing after seven days. While some teams, particularly from Latin America, continue to work in areas where survivors might still be found, the majority are now assisting local teams with body recovery. Of the 77 international teams that arrived from 31 countries, only 25 remain, though many are preparing to leave. The UN coordinating body handed over responsibility to Venezuelan Civil Protection on July 3, 2026.

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From day seven, the teams begin to demobilize, although there are still teams that arrived later who continue, especially from Latin America. They continue working in places where there are reports of life, but the majority are working with local teams on body recovery.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has honored and decorated rescuers from nearly 30 countries who participated in the relief efforts. The earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck on June 24, 2026, causing a confirmed death toll of 3,342 and leaving 16,740 injured.

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What we are seeing now is that there are more and more displacements towards states that have not been affected.

In Caraballeda, one of the hardest-hit areas, streets appeared emptier, though many families continue to camp in parks and on sidewalks, unwilling to leave the vicinity of collapsed buildings where their loved ones remain. Veronique Durroux, spokesperson for OCHA Latin America and the Caribbean, noted an increase in displacement towards unaffected western states like Táchira and Zulia, which border Colombia, as well as Delta Amacuro in the east.

Mariana Hernández has been camped for 11 days near a 12-story building in Playa Grande, pleading for help to retrieve her sister, husband, and two nephews. "The people you see working here are purely people who have family here and support that has arrived from other states," she told EFE. Excavators and a large crane, privately owned by a building resident, are on site, assisting volunteers in recovering victims. So far, 120 deceased have been recovered from this single building, with more believed to be trapped inside.

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The people you see working here are purely people who have family here and support that has arrived from other states.