CARACAS — Venezuela’s government is facing growing criticism from earthquake survivors and relatives of victims who say emergency assistance has been slow to reach some of the hardest-hit areas, as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country’s north.
Authorities have reported that the June 24 earthquakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction in areas including La Guaira state and parts of Caracas. The official death toll has risen to about 1,450 people, with thousands injured, according to government officials cited in reports. Rescue operations remain ongoing as teams search for people still trapped beneath debris.
Survivors and families of missing people have questioned the pace and coordination of the government response, with some saying they relied on neighbors, volunteers and international rescue teams during the first days after the disaster. Reports from affected communities described residents using available tools and their hands to search damaged buildings while waiting for additional assistance.
The criticism intensified during visits by government officials to damaged areas. Residents in Caracas and La Guaira expressed anger over what they described as a lack of immediate support, while officials said authorities were mobilizing resources and coordinating national and international assistance.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said her administration had declared an emergency, expressed condolences to victims and sought international assistance after the earthquakes. Officials have said security forces, emergency personnel and rescue workers have been deployed, while foreign teams have arrived to support search-and-rescue efforts.
International rescue groups and humanitarian organizations have joined Venezuelan emergency services in affected areas, particularly in La Guaira, where many buildings collapsed. Aid shipments and rescue personnel from several countries have begun arriving as authorities continue damage assessments and relief operations.
The disaster has become a major test for Venezuela’s emergency response capacity. Analysts and humanitarian observers have pointed to long-standing challenges affecting public services and state institutions, while government supporters have emphasized the scale of the disaster and the need for continued cooperation.
Rescue operations remain active as aftershocks continue to complicate work at damaged sites. Authorities have said teams will continue searching for survivors and assisting displaced residents while assessments of the full impact of the earthquakes proceed.
