Venezuela Struggles to Cope After Devastating Earthquakes Kill Over 3,300

Eleven days after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, the full scale of the disaster is becoming clear. The Venezuelan Ministry of Information reports that the death toll has risen to 3,342, with 16,740 injured and more than 17,300 people left homeless. The twin quakes, among the worst in Latin American history, destroyed approximately 58,000 buildings and nearly obliterated the coastal region of La Guaira.

Since the initial tremors, nearly 1,000 aftershocks have complicated rescue efforts by over 4,000 emergency workers. Hospitals are overwhelmed, forcing them to store bodies in open parking lots due to lack of space. Private companies at La Guaira port have donated large refrigerated containers to preserve the numerous corpses, but experts warn mass graves may become necessary given the collapse of infrastructure and the sheer number of fatalities.

Forensic technicians estimate that recovering all victims could take up to three months, as many remain buried under thick layers of concrete and rubble. Identification is difficult, often relying on tattoos or clothing. Public anger is mounting against the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, with many accusing the government of a slow and inadequate response before international aid arrived. Rodríguez defended the government's immediate deployment of security forces and pledged that social solidarity would prevent societal collapse.

Despite the devastation, there have been moments of hope, including the rescue of a man alive from a collapsed shopping center eight days after the quake. The UN World Food Programme has expanded aid to the hardest-hit areas, providing food assistance to around 5,000 people so far. Pope Leo XIV also expressed support and called for prayers for the Venezuelan people during this difficult time.