health
Venezuelans Were Sorting Through the Rubble Alone
“It was just us, the relatives, the neighbors,” one woman who was searching for her family said.
TL;DR
- Powerful earthquakes caused significant damage in La Guaira, Venezuela, collapsing apartment buildings like the Conjunto Residencial Belo Horizonte.
- Residents, including Erick Rosas and Zuleica Perez, described a desperate initial search for survivors carried out by family, neighbors, and friends, often with inadequate tools and in dangerous conditions.
- The local population felt the absence of government assistance in the crucial first days, relying on each other for rescue efforts.
- International search-and-rescue teams arrived later, equipped with specialized tools, highlighting the contrast with the initial DIY efforts.
- The disaster has exacerbated Venezuela's existing profound crisis, overwhelming the state's capabilities.