La Guaira: In the aftermath of Venezuela’s most powerful earthquakes in a century, local residents armed with shovels, ropes and bare hands have driven much of the immediate rescue work, saying they stepped in to compensate for what they view as a slow and insufficient government response, agencies reported.
Nearby volunteers say they have filled gaps left by official teams.
‘You Don’t See The State Per Se’
Alexander Delgado, a physical education teacher from Aragua state, arrived in La Guaira a day after the twin quakes and has helped lead a civilian rescue squad at the collapsed Hugo Chávez housing complex. With no formal rescue training, Delgado and other volunteers have spent days carefully removing rubble and listening for survivors, backed by neighbours supplying water, masks, ice and local information about apartment layouts.
“You see the firefighters, (Mexican rescue team) Los Topos, but you don’t see the state per se,” Delgado said.
Even by the sixth day after the disaster, Delgado told reporters, rescue crews still lacked crucial heavy machinery, despite the presence of international teams and local firefighters. At one point volunteers recovered a woman’s body from under concrete and halted work while forensic officials collected the remains.
Volunteers Forced To Improvise
Many volunteers said operating with scant official support is familiar. Veterinarian Mijaed Diaz joined university volunteers in the searches and criticised authorities for not doing more.
“I would like more presence of public entities, who really are those responsible for this. But in the end we’re used to making do with almost nothing,” Diaz said.
Aid Restrictions Spark Anger
Anger has grown after authorities initially welcomed civilians but later restricted public access to La Guaira, limiting people trying to help. Some volunteers and witnesses accused police and military personnel of obstructing aid, confiscating donated goods and looting valuables from damaged buildings. A government worker at a checkpoint told Reuters that officers and soldiers allegedly seized supplies from trucks and boasted about their spoils.
Government Rejects Criticism
Senior officials denied the accusations, saying criticism came from misinformation on social media. The Interior Ministry said four crime-scene police officers were detained and removed from duty over claims they took valuables from disaster sites, while asserting police generally acted transparently.
NGOs Return Despite Restrictions
The quake has prompted the comeback of civil society groups previously curtailed by authorities. Roberto Patiño, who leads the NGO Alimenta La Solidaridad, said his organisation resumed delivering food, medicine, rescue tools and Starlink terminals to affected areas.
“We are operating and trying to show, once again, that our work is about supporting communities and not something for which we should be persecuted,” Patiño said.
Families Plead For Faster Rescue Efforts
The searches are intensely personal for many volunteers. Miguel Poleo joined Delgado’s team looking for his stepdaughter, her husband and their son, whom he fears remain under rubble. He said residents had repeatedly told officials that survivors were knocking beneath collapsed buildings, but saw no response.
“We told them two days ago that there are survivors, that they are knocking, and nothing,” Poleo said. “They don’t help anyone.”
Death Toll & Relief
Officials put the death toll at 2,295 and say more than 11,000 people were injured. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reported 6,461 people rescued and that more than 4,000 domestic and international rescuers remain engaged. The UN estimates about 50,000 people remain missing. The World Food Programme has appealed for $50 million to feed roughly 500,000 people for three months as temporary camps expand and international aid efforts continue.
