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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuelans accuse government of negligence amid earthquake rescue efforts

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Families in La Guaira accuse the Venezuelan government of negligence and a slow response following earthquakes that killed at least 1,700 people.
  • Rescuers are struggling to find survivors under collapsed buildings, with families expressing anger over the lack of adequate support.
  • Survivors report that rescue operations began late and were insufficient, with community members initially providing the only aid.

In the coastal town of La Guaira, Venezuela, families are voicing rage and despair, accusing the government of negligence in its response to the devastating earthquakes that struck the nation last week. At least 1,700 people have died in the disaster, and many survivors remain trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Silence!

— RescuersShouted to halt traffic and conversation as rescuers attempt to listen for survivors.

Rescuers, including teams from Venezuela and Colombia, are working against time, listening for any sounds of life from the debris of a 12-story building. The atmosphere is thick with tension as families wait for any sign of their loved ones. Miguel Óscar Núñez, whose 34-year-old son Ángel was in the building, expressed his frustration: "My son, like hundreds more, is trapped under the rubble. However, we urgently need more support from the authorities to unearth them. The earthquake may not have killed him, but can you imagine if he dies due to the negligence of the authorities?"

My son, like hundreds more, is trapped under the rubble. However, we urgently need more support from the authorities to unearth them. The earthquake may not have killed him, but can you imagine if he dies due to the negligence of the authorities?

— Miguel Óscar NúñezExpressing anger and frustration over the perceived lack of government support in rescue operations.

Kevin Montilla, whose wife Luzmary and 16-year-old daughter Jhoerliyzmar were in the same building, echoed these sentiments. "The rescue operation started very late and has been slow. Initially, only community neighbors came to help. The police just came to take a look, but did not help. The government's response has been frustrating and ineffective," he stated.

The rescue operation started very late and has been slow. Initially, only community neighbors came to help. The police only came to take a look, but did not help. The government's response has been frustrating and ineffective.

— Kevin MontillaDescribing the delayed and inadequate official response to the earthquake disaster.

Despite the presence of excavators and a crane, families on the scene feel precious time has been wasted. Deilisbeth Herreira, searching for her teenage daughters, cried out, "They have left me alone to find my daughters." The sentiment among those gathered is that while hope remains, the slow and insufficient government response is compounding the tragedy.

They have left me alone to find my daughters.

— Deilisbeth HerreiraExpressing her distress and the burden of searching for her missing daughters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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