14/07/2026 15:58 - Internacionales
On June 24, 2026, the northern coast of Venezuela experienced a catastrophe of biblical proportions. Two powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck the region within a minute of each other, reducing densely populated buildings like the OPPE 25 housing complex in La Guaira to rubble. The event released energy equivalent to 240 atomic bombs like those dropped on Hiroshima, according to Carlos Genatios, a structural engineer and former Minister of Science and Technology.
The official death toll, updated on July 13, rose to 4,490 people, with nearly 17,000 injured. While the numbers are heartbreaking, the resilience of the Venezuelan people shines through as they continue rescue efforts and demand a better future.
'I didn't lose a kitchen. I lost a daughter!'
Public outrage has surfaced alongside the grief. Damely Yaneth Díaz, a resident of Catia La Mar, publicly confronted Congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of former president Nicolás Maduro. 'All of you should be arrested! This was negligence and you must pay!' she shouted, earning applause from bystanders who are bravely demanding accountability.
The discontent is directed at interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office in January following the kidnapping of Maduro ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 3, 2026. Rodríguez has dismissed the criticisms as a 'malicious campaign' and defended her government's 'tireless' response, though she has avoided interacting directly with families in the zero zones.
The housing complexes of Hugo Chávez's 'Bolivarian Revolution', built on soft soils that shook like jelly, are at the center of the poor construction criticisms. Despite the tragedy, stories of survival offer hope. Gabriel González, a 45-year-old construction worker who lived in OPPE 25, is still searching for his son Daniel (22) and his mother-in-law. However, Gabriel and his wife Rosa survived a miracle: they spent 24 hours buried together before being rescued completely unharmed.
Other residents, like Marciel Edilberto Llarve from OPPE 33, described the buildings as 'poor quality death traps.' Francisco González, a 60-year-old resident, summarized the feelings of many: 'I think God is punishing the politicians.'
The tragedy has opened the door for international solidarity to stabilize the nation, which holds the world's largest oil reserves. The United States has sent around 1,000 military personnel to bolster the emergency response. According to The New York Times, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be acting as the 'de facto viceroy' of the South American country, coordinating crucial aid.
For many, the devastation has brought hidden issues to light. Milagri Rodríguez Guanire, who traveled from Chile to search for her mother in the rubble, expressed a hopeful perspective for change: 'I feel that [the earthquakes] were the drop that overflowed the glass so that everyone sees that enough is enough with what is happening in Venezuela.'
Sources: The Guardian (July 14, 2026) and The Guardian (July 12, 2026)
Alfredo S. Quiroga
