Venezuelan Families Express Frustration as Earthquake Response Falters

Angry Venezuelans accuse government of negligence – The twin earthquakes that shook Venezuela last week left a trail of devastation, particularly in the coastal town of La Guaira. Among the hardest-hit areas was a government-owned complex where dozens of families lost loved ones in the collapse of a 12-storey building. As the dust settled, residents like Deilisbeth Herreira and Miguel Oscar Nunez stood in the aftermath, their voices echoing with anguish over what they saw as a delayed and inadequate rescue effort.

A Moment of Silence Amid the Chaos

When the tremors struck, Deilisbeth Herreira’s two teenage daughters were at home. The scene was eerily quiet, broken only by the urgent shouts of rescuers as they directed people to hush. “Silencio,” they screamed, fists raised toward the road, signaling the crowd to stop talking. The vehicles on the street halted, and the diggers paused their work. In this moment of stillness, a rescuer pressed his ear against a newly drilled hole in the concrete, while another shone a flashlight into the void, hoping to catch a sign of life.

Hope and Desperation in La Guaira

For Miguel Oscar Nunez, the silence was both a pause and a warning. His 34-year-old son, Angel, lived in the building, and now he waited alongside other families, their hopes flickering like the torchlight in the rubble. “My son, like hundreds, is trapped under the debris. But we need more support from authorities to save him,” he said, his voice trembling with frustration. “Can you imagine if he dies because of the government’s slow response?” The delay, he argued, could mean the difference between life and death for those buried beneath the rubble.

The rescue operation, which began days after the disaster, was described by Kevin Montilla as “frustrating and impotent.” His home, located in the same collapsed structure, was destroyed, but he had been away at work. His wife, Luzmary, and 16-year-old daughter, Jhoerliyzmar, were among the victims. “The rescue teams arrived too late, and even now, the work is sluggish. Initially, only community members helped, while the police merely checked in,” Montilla said. “The government’s inaction has left us in limbo, praying for better outcomes.”

Searching for Answers in the Rubble

As we visited the site, the efforts of rescue crews from Venezuela and Colombia were underway. Two excavators and a crane worked to lift concrete slabs, but the families waiting by the roadside expressed disappointment. “Days have passed without significant progress. It feels like we’re waiting for the authorities to act,” one resident said, their patience thinning with each passing hour.

Deilisbeth Herreira, a single parent, was at a local hospital in La Guaira, poring over a list of the injured and deceased. Her daughters, Greydelys, 12, and Graybelys, 13, were still missing. “I have no one to rely on. No machines or rescuers have been sent to dig through the rubble,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “It’s as if we’re left to find our own loved ones in the wreckage.” Her hope for her children remained unshaken, though the emotional toll was palpable.

Community Efforts and Government Criticism

While the official response lagged, the people of La Guaira took matters into their own hands. On a road that clings to the coastline, two high-rise apartment blocks from the Bello Horizonte complex lay in ruins. Families and volunteers, clad in masks and rubber gloves, used shovels and crowbars to clear the rubble, their determination a stark contrast to the government’s perceived indifference.

William Rodrigues, one of the volunteers, described the scene as “a nightmare.” “The smell here is unbearable, but I’m still digging because there might be someone alive beneath the debris,” he said. “We can’t just stand by when people are still trapped.” His uncle was among those missing, and his resolve to find him underscored the collective despair in the community.

Structural Vulnerability and Rescue Priorities

The building where Angel Nunez and others were buried was part of a government-operated complex, which may have contributed to the delayed response. Despite its prominence near the busy road, the rescue teams had not reached all areas of the town. “In some parts of La Guaira state, search crews haven’t even started,” said Juan Avendo, a 60-year-old resident whose home was also destroyed. “We heard the cries of people trapped, so we tried to help ourselves with whatever tools we had.”

Avendo’s account highlights a growing frustration with the government’s handling of the crisis. While emergency workers focused on the high-profile site, the less visible parts of the town were overlooked. “It’s like the authorities are only interested in saving those who are more visible, not the ones who are forgotten,” he said. The disparity in attention raised questions about the prioritization of resources and the effectiveness of the rescue strategy.

Voices of the Survivors

Deilisbeth Herreira’s story is emblematic of the broader struggle. As a single parent, she had no one to turn to after the earthquake struck. “I was at work when the tremors hit. I assumed my daughters were safe at home, but I’m searching everywhere just in case,” she said. Her daughters, quiet and studious, were now the focus of her relentless hope. “All I want is for them to return, no matter how long it takes.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Montilla’s words echoed the sentiment of many. “The government’s response has been frustrating, like they’re trying to make up for lost time,” he said. “People are still waiting for machines and coordination, but the delay has already cost lives.” The criticism was not just about the timing of the rescue teams but also the lack of communication and organization during the operation.

Resilience in the Face of Crisis

Despite the setbacks, the residents of La Guaira showed remarkable resilience. “We’re not giving up,” said William Rodrigues, who continued digging even as the stench of decay filled the air. “If we stop, who will keep searching for our missing loved ones?” His words resonated with others who had gathered to support the efforts, their hands working tirelessly to uncover the truth beneath the rubble.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez had earlier called the earthquakes “the most brutal natural catastrophe” in Venezuela’s history, but her words seemed to fall on deaf ears. For the families who lost their loved ones, the government’s promise of a swift response was overshadowed by the reality of a slow, fragmented effort. “The earthquake was a force of nature, but the negligence of the authorities has made it feel like a tragedy they caused,” Miguel Oscar Nunez said, his voice thick with emotion.

As the days passed, the calls for action grew louder. The residents of La Guaira, once shaken by the earthquakes, now demanded accountability from their leaders. “We need more machines, more teams, and more coordination,” Deilisbeth Herreira urged. “Otherwise, we’ll never find our daughters.” The tragedy had become a catalyst for change, with families determined to ensure that the government’s response would not be another casualty of the disaster.

With the sun setting over the rubble-strewn streets, the search continued. Each piece of debris shifted brought a glimmer of hope, yet the weight of disappointment lingered. The people of La Guaira, once united by the shock of the earthquakes, now stood divided between the promise of a better response and the reality of their slow, agonizing wait. The earthquake had tested their resolve, but their voices—full of anger, grief, and determination—refused to be silenced.