Venezuela suspends journalist transport to earthquake zone citing 'sanitary recommendations'

The Venezuelan government has imposed a 48-hour suspension on the organized bus transport of journalists to La Guaira, the coastal region hardest hit by Wednesday's devastating double earthquake. A source close to the Ministry of Communication cited "sanitary recommendations" as the reason for the halt.

According to the source, the upcoming 48 hours are considered vital for the rescue of any remaining survivors. The government's stated aim is to ensure rescuers can operate with maximum silence and minimal disruption during this critical period. The suspension means journalists who had been utilizing a system of 90 daily bus seats to access the disaster zones will now have to find alternative means.

Despite the official reason, the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) voiced strong criticism. The union argued that preventing journalists from reporting on the ground does not resolve the emergency. They emphasized that as time passes, the sanitary situation could worsen, and the country urgently needs verified and timely information, particularly for the families of victims.

The SNTP noted that many correspondents have already managed to reach La Guaira using their own resources, indicating that access, while perhaps more difficult, is not entirely blocked. This earthquake, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, is the deadliest to strike Venezuela in a century, surpassing the 1967 Caracas earthquake which killed 245 people.