After two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela earlier this month, the northern state of La Guaira faces widespread devastation. The twin tremors have already claimed nearly 2,000 lives and injured more than 10,000 people across the country.
In La Guaira, residents are forced to live outdoors as hundreds of buildings have collapsed or suffered severe damage. Many fear aftershocks and lack a safe place to return to.
Compounding the crisis, intermittent heavy rainstorms have battered areas close to Caracas, further endangering displaced families.
One survivor, a 38‑year‑old resident of the Caribe housing complex, described the chaos inside his building and expressed frustration over the limited aid that has reached the area.
The Caribe complex, part of a social housing program, contains hundreds of apartments. While his tower remains standing, other structures in the neighborhood collapsed completely, trapping residents inside.
He reported that the third and fourth floors of his building collapsed, leaving stairwells warped and cracked and rendering large sections uninhabitable.
Neighbors organized the initial rescue efforts, stepping in after police and National Guard units were absent from the scene.
Authorities have militarized the area and restricted access to help maintain order during ongoing recovery operations.
Officials have documented that at least 22,619 people have been affected nationwide. They also reported that 855 buildings were damaged and 189 collapsed, while satellite imagery suggests that up to 58,870 buildings could have sustained damage across the country.
Power restoration efforts have reached 90% of electrical service in La Guaira, providing a critical step toward normalcy.
In total, 2,100 rescue workers from 28 countries have been deployed to the region, working tirelessly to locate survivors and provide aid.
The situation remains dire, with ongoing rescue operations and humanitarian efforts continuing as the region struggles to recover from the earthquakes and subsequent weather challenges.
