Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez dismissed criticism of his government’s response to the country’s deadly twin earthquakes on June 24 at a news conference Thursday.
She denied that the government was moving too slowly in its response to the crisis and clashed with international journalists, whom she accused of being involved in a ‘media institute’.
In the days following the earthquake that killed at least 2,595 people, many citizens criticized the state for taking too long to deploy search and rescue teams, while others pointed to poor building construction, safety standards and basic services to respond to the disaster.
“We have done everything in our power and we will continue to do everything in our power and more,” Rodriguez told reporters Thursday in the presence of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Education Minister Hector Rodriguez Castro.
The president, who took office when Nicolás Maduro was arrested by the United States on January 3, denied the country was responding slowly to the disaster. “”We didn’t wait one, two, three days. We took action immediately.”
In the days after the quake, many of the hardest-hit areas received no government help, leaving local residents to try to pull their loved ones out of the rubble on their own. However, in many cases the task was impossible due to a lack of heavy equipment.
Rodríguez blamed a malicious media campaign for the initial chaos, asking people to seek help in La Guaira, one of the worst-hit cities, knowing that malicious actors would block the way for rescue teams.
“So we militarized it,” she said, justifying the deployment of troops that prevented individuals from entering La Guaira to deliver aid.
Rodriguez showed video interviews of UN officials defending the government’s response at a combative press conference and even guided a cameraman to film WhatsApp messages ordering a disaster response in the early stages of the crisis.
But more than a week after the earthquake, La Guaira residents remain dissatisfied with their government. speaking Latin America ReportMany people were visibly frustrated with the state’s response and criticized the lack of support they received.
With rescue efforts still ongoing, thousands of people who have lost their homes are now awaiting the next phase of state support – a new place to live.
Featured image caption: Delcy Rodriguez speaks at a press conference on July 2, 2026.
Featured image credit: Alfie Pannell.
