Venezuela: Makeshift morgue set up at port in earthquake-devastated zone

Forensic teams in Venezuela are struggling to cope with the sheer volume of bodies following a devastating double earthquake. An improvised morgue has been established at the port in La Guaira, a coastal state near Caracas that bore the brunt of the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors.

Journalists observed dozens of bodies in bags, some already in wooden coffins, stacked on the ground at the port. A hundred empty urns sat nearby, with debris also present. The earthquakes, which struck with little interval, have left over 1,700 dead, a number authorities expect to rise. Morgues in local health centers quickly collapsed under the strain, leading to the makeshift facility at the port.

“

My family is there, they tell me my sister and her children are there, and my brother's children, the one who survived.

Families are enduring long waits to identify and claim their deceased relatives. Wilker Molalla, 25, described the agonizing wait, hoping to find his sister and her children among the victims. He and his brother were the only survivors from their 11-member family, having been at work when the earthquake struck. Many arrive with flowers, a somber testament to their loss.

“

I came yesterday and walked everywhere, and walked everywhere, and walked everywhere, and I didn't find my daughter.

Criticism has surfaced regarding the emergency response, with complaints about a lack of personnel. The search for victims in the rubble is often conducted without official assistance. Forensic workers operate outdoors, with some bodies covered in lime, a procedure questioned by experts. Despite the grim scene, death certificates and cremation permits are being issued at the port. Antony Marcano recounted the relief of finally identifying his daughter, who was otherwise unrecognizable, by the ring he had given her.

While authorities are hesitant to discuss the missing, the UN estimates around 50,000 people are unaccounted for and has pledged 10,000 body bags. Private funeral homes are offering free transport and cremation services, with hearses lining up outside the port.

“

Today I came with more calm and thank God I found her, I identified her. I recognized her by the ring I gave her.