On June 30, 2026, in the coastal town of La Guaira, Venezuela, rescuers were working tirelessly to locate survivors under the rubble of a 12-storey building that collapsed during the twin earthquakes that struck the country last week, killing at least 1,700 people. Interim President Delcy RodrÃguez has described the earthquakes as the 'most brutal natural catastrophe' in Venezuela's history. Miguel Oscar Nunez, whose 34-year-old son Angel lived in the building, was among the families waiting anxiously by the roadside, holding his breath as rescuers listened for any sounds of survivors. However, the silence was deafening, and the rescuers heard nothing. Miguel expressed his anger and frustration, stating that his son and hundreds of others were trapped under the rubble, and that more support from authorities was urgently needed to dig them out.
Kevin Montilla, whose wife Luzmary and 16-year-old daughter Jhoerliyzmar were at home when the earthquake struck, shared similar sentiments. He stated that the rescue operation started very late and was slow, with only community members initially providing help. The police, he said, only came to check but did not assist. Deilisbeth Herreira, a single parent, was also searching for her two teenage daughters, Greydelys and Graybelys, who were likely at home when the earthquake hit. She expressed her desperation and feeling of being left alone to find her daughters, with no machines or rescuers sent to dig through the rubble.
The families waiting by the roadside felt that precious days had been wasted before the rescue effort started. Rescue teams from Venezuela and Colombia were conducting operations, with two diggers and a crane lifting up concrete slabs. However, the families accused the government of negligence and apathy, with Miguel stating that it was possible that the earthquake may not have killed his son, but the authorities' negligence could. The building was one of several in a government-owned complex, and its prominent location may have drawn the attention of the rescue teams. However, there were parts of La Guaira state where search teams had not even reached, leaving many families feeling frustrated and helpless.
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📰 Source: BBC World