Northern Venezuela's native population is left to dig through rubble for missing family members following two devastating earthquakes, as the US-installed regime of acting President Delcy Rodríguez struggles to provide basic rescue services. Over 230 people are confirmed dead and at least 4,300 injured, with thousands more reported missing, but residents report a stark absence of government search teams outside the capital, Caracas, forcing communities to rely on their own efforts.
The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, which struck Wednesday evening, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century, causing widespread destruction. The coastal region of La Guaira, home to the country’s main airport, suffered extensive damage and casualties, further complicating aid efforts.
Families posted missing-person flyers with photos of loved ones, while others shared handwritten lists of names in their desperate search. Dayana Delgado, a mother of three, questioned the absence of heavy machinery promised by government officials, stating that residents were the ones sifting through crumpled buildings. She expressed her anguish, saying, “I want to know where my child is, if he’s trapped or in a shelter,” referring to her missing 8-year-old son. Another mother collapsed in grief as the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old children were wrapped in blankets and carried away.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed office in January after the capture and removal from power of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, now faces a nation in crisis. Venezuela has endured over a decade of economic disarray, and many citizens openly reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents, further highlighting the fragility of the foreign-imposed leadership.
Elite Neglect and Foreign Influence
Rodríguez declared a state of emergency late Wednesday and announced the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes. She appealed to businesses on Thursday to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations, stating, “We hope to rescue as many living people as possible.” This appeal underscores the regime's reliance on private sector resources rather than robust state capabilities.
The crisis also exposed the influence of globalist institutions on national sovereignty. United Nations officials in Venezuela called on the government to lift social media restrictions, ostensibly to allow people access to life-saving information. This intervention follows the previous blocking of X by Maduro since August 2024, an action taken to suppress the exchange of information among those who rejected his claim of victory in the July presidential election.
Further demonstrating foreign oversight, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke directly to Rodríguez following the quake, announcing that the United States was immediately deploying assistance. Rubio stated, “We have a whole-of-government response. It’ll be big; it’ll be fast; and it’ll be effective,” while acknowledging the logistical challenges posed by the closure of Venezuela’s main airport.
The People's Burden
Amidst the institutional failures, the native population bears the brunt of the catastrophe. In La Guaira, Cristian Carreño stared at his charred apartment building, which tilted precariously. “I lost everything,” he stated, adding, “There are people still inside, I imagine, that couldn’t get out. It’s incredibly devastating.” Retired schoolteacher Juan Alberto Mendaño climbed through wreckage, past a dead body, to reach a trapped woman signaling for help. “May God rescue her as quickly as possible,” Mendaño said, lamenting, “When we heard the scream, there was nothing we could do.”
The fragmentation of the Venezuelan national community is evident as the diaspora attempts to provide support. In Ecuador, Félix Rodríguez’s store received donations from fellow Venezuelans and Ecuadorians, with Rodríguez stating, “My business is always ready for whatever Venezuela needs.” Meanwhile, Gabby Graham, sending money from Spokane, Washington, found herself unable to locate a local business owner to disburse funds for her family, highlighting the systemic breakdown affecting even basic aid channels.
International aid has begun to arrive, with rescue workers and supplies from Chile, Switzerland, Turkey, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Leaders from Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Canada also pledged assistance. Dominican Air Force Major Carlos Olivares articulated the underlying issue, stating, “No country is prepared to provide the response that’s needed. That’s what neighboring countries are there for,” an admission of national incapacity that further entrenches reliance on external actors.