‘Nothing is left’/ Venezuela commemorates 6,500 victims, 100 days after the double earthquake

A memorial ceremony was held on Friday evening in Carabayeda, in the state of La Guaira, where around 400 people honored the memory of the victims of the double earthquake that struck Venezuela 100 days ago.

Volunteers lit and distributed white candles at the site where a residential complex once stood. The building collapsed after two tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, recorded just 39 seconds apart.

Among those who lost their lives was 16-year-old Francelis Iriarte. She was trapped under the rubble when the building collapsed in front of her parents, who were returning from the supermarket. The family’s car bore the dedication: “We will love you forever, our daughter.”

The girl’s body was recovered from the rubble after 29 days of searching.

Fielous Perdomo, who lost several family members in the tragedy, spoke with anguish in front of the site where the apartment building had once stood.

“It is difficult to accept that nothing is left except a small tree. It is terrible,” she said through tears.

The tremors on June 24 caused extensive damage in northern Venezuela. According to reported data, the death toll reached more than 6,500 people.