Venezuela's interim president defends government's earthquake response

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has defended her government's response to last week's devastating earthquakes, pushing back against accusations that authorities acted too slowly. "We did not wait one, two, or three days. We acted immediately," Rodríguez stated in Caracas, asserting that the government's crisis management was swift.

“

We did not wait one, two, or three days. We acted immediately.

Rodríguez also contested reports of a significantly higher death toll and denied that the state's poorly constructed social housing had exacerbated the disaster's scale. She accused media outlets of spreading misinformation and politicizing the tragedy, calling it "shameful" to exploit such a humanitarian crisis for political gain. Official figures released by Rodríguez indicate 2,595 deaths and 12,400 injuries, with rescue efforts continuing for survivors. However, the government has remained silent on the number of missing persons, a figure the United Nations estimates could be as high as 50,000.

“

A humanitarian tragedy like this to exploit politically is shameful.

The government's actions are under increasing scrutiny as Rodríguez's term nears its end. Critics allege a sluggish and uncoordinated response. Residents in the heavily impacted La Guaira state reported having to search for buried loved ones with their bare hands in the initial days, lacking substantial state assistance. Rescue teams on the ground also lamented the shortage of specialized equipment. Accusations have also surfaced regarding the quality of state-funded housing projects, with reports suggesting they may have contributed to the high casualty count.

“

The figures we have published have been carefully verified.