Venezuelan Families Endure Agony After Colombia Earthquake

The powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia has sent waves of anxiety and grief across the border to Venezuela's Sucre state. Families there are caught in a painful limbo, desperately trying to ascertain the fate of relatives who disappeared in the neighboring country.

Compounding their anguish is the immense financial burden and logistical nightmare of repatriating bodies. With poor communication channels and limited access to authorities, many are turning to social media and community solidarity for help. The cost of transporting remains from Colombia to Venezuela is prohibitively high for many.

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The day before the earthquake, she had been discharged after surgery. She was at home when the tremor occurred and, due to the impact (the fright from the shaking), she suffered a heart attack.

In the fishing town of Arapo, Oriannis Rodríguez recounted the tragedy of her cousin, Petra María Gómez, who died of a heart attack during the earthquake's aftermath, just after recovering from surgery. The family faced an immediate demand for $1,000 to transfer Gómez's body from Cartagena, a cost they could only meet through public fundraising and her community's goodwill, leaving them deeply indebted.

Meanwhile, in the rural area of El Pilar, Nieves Malavé is enduring days of torment, attempting to confirm the safety of her two young sons and their father, who have been living in Pereira, one of Colombia's most affected cities. After three days of frantic searching, she received a brief WhatsApp message confirming they were alive, but communication has since ceased. Malavé's struggle to get updates is compounded by unreliable phone services and daily power outages in her village, making every attempt to connect a harrowing ordeal.

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We were able to pay it, but we were left very indebted.