Venezuela: Rodriguez Denies 'Social Explosion' Risk Post-Earthquakes

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez has dismissed the possibility of a "social explosion" in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck the nation. Speaking at a ceremony commemorating Venezuela's independence on July 5, Rodriguez directly addressed critics, accusing them of attempting to incite unrest during a time of profound national grief.

"I do not understand how, in these moments of pain for Venezuela, of national mourning... there are those who dare to plan possible social explosions," Rodriguez stated. "Here, there will be no social explosion. Here, what there is, is a deep social solidarity of our people."

Her remarks come as the government faces intense criticism for its handling of the disaster. The twin earthquakes, which struck 39 seconds apart on June 24, have resulted in a provisional death toll of nearly 3,000 and left over 16,000 injured. More than 16,000 people are homeless, and 856 buildings have been damaged, according to the Venezuelan Ministry of Communications. In the hardest-hit areas, like La Guaira, entire buildings have been reduced to rubble, and rescue efforts continue to search for an estimated 50,000 missing persons, though other estimates suggest around 10,000 are unaccounted for.

Many residents in the affected zones have expressed anger towards the public authorities' response. Foreign rescue teams are increasingly scarce as the hope of finding survivors diminishes. The situation remains dire for many displaced individuals living in parks or on the streets with no clear prospects for shelter or recovery.

“

I do not understand how, in these moments of pain for Venezuela, of national mourning... there are those who dare to plan possible social explosions. Here, there will be no social explosion. Here, what there is, is a deep social solidarity of our people.