Earthquake in Venezuela, survivors denounce delays in response: We were abandoned under the rubble

Residents of the regions affected by the devastating earthquake in Venezuela are accusing the authorities, saying the response came too late and that search-and-rescue assistance was lacking.

The official toll shows that last week’s seismic tremors have left at least 1,700 dead, while a large number of people are still listed as missing.

Relatives of those who were trapped under the rubble say the crucial hours and days after the disaster passed without the necessary support from the state. According to them, many family members were forced to dig through the debris themselves, using their hands, shovels and improvised tools in an effort to pull out their loved ones.

From the coastal city of La Guaira, residents say state rescue teams arrived only two days after the earthquake. They say the first assistance was provided mainly by volunteers and members of the local community, while they describe the government’s response as “frustrating” and “powerless.”

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has described the event as “the most brutal natural disaster” in Venezuela’s history. Despite this, relatives of the victims and the missing are demanding greater transparency and commitment, warning that many bodies may remain under the rubble forever.