Caracas, Venezuela — The scene in the northern state of La Guaira was one of devastation, days after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, killing nearly 2,000 people and injuring more than 10,000.
Residents are living outdoors after hundreds of buildings completely or partially collapsed. Some people were too afraid to return home for fear of aftershocks, while others had no home to return to.
To make matters worse, in some areas, displaced people have been facing severe storms that have hit areas near Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, intermittently since Sunday.
“I am an earthquake survivor. I was in the building when we started feeling the earthquake and we started helping people get out,” said Daniel, 38, a resident of La Guaira, who expressed disappointment over the latest tragedy to hit the state. (In 1999, La Guaira suffered a serious landslide that killed thousands of people.)
He explained that little aid had arrived in his city on the Caribbean coast, which was unfortunate given that he believed thousands of victims could have been rescued much earlier if authorities had been better prepared.
Danielle said they are not given water and feel left out.
His building, located in an urbanization called Caribe, is part of Misión Vivienda, a social housing program launched in 2011 by former President Hugo Chávez and has hundreds of apartments.
Although his tower is still intact, Caribe’s other structures have completely collapsed.
Daniel said he was grateful to be alive. “Many of us were able to get out of here, but it was tragic in other towers in the Caribbean. No one was able to escape. Several people were killed and many were injured,” he said. Latin America Report.
He said many of his buildings had suffered irreparable damage and were now uninhabitable. “The third and fourth floors collapsed, and the stairwell was bent and cracked.”
He said neighbors were involved in early rescue efforts and were able to save many lives.
“We have all been supporting each other because the police or the National Guard have not arrived,” he said Monday. To control the situation, the government militarized La Guaira and restricted access to the area.
At least 22,619 people have been affected in several states across the country, according to Venezuelan officials.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Monday that 855 buildings were damaged and 189 completely collapsed. However, a team of researchers from Oregon State University reviewed satellite images and concluded that up to 58,870 buildings nationwide could be damaged.
As of Tuesday morning, 90% of La Guaira’s electric service had been restored, helping restore power to the state.
Additionally, a total of 2,100 international rescue workers from 28 countries have been dispatched and are working tirelessly to find survivors.
Featured Image: Buildings collapse in La Guaira, Venezuela, following a pair of devastating earthquakes on June 24, 2026.
Image credit: Julio Blanca for Latin America Report
