Dear reader,
If you’re reading this it is because you have some sort of connection or interest in Venezuela. Those connections usually range from roots to memories to people. If you’re abroad, we want to be useful to you. Don’t hesitate to reach out, reply to this email or drop a comment if you’re looking for someone or would like to know the conditions of a certain area. Also, if you feel there’s something you have to offer that can be of help in this crisis, please let us know as well.
If there ever was a time to come together for our people in Venezuela, it is now.
Here are some options on how to help.
Back to our usual programming…
According to the last update we saw from Delcy, the local management confirmed the following figures: 188 deceased; 1,520 injured; and 72 buildings collapsed.
These are official figures confirmed by the government, and nowhere near what the balance is going to be. This is just the beginning. As a reference, this website has been gathering citizen reports of missing people. At the time of writing, 48,779 had been reported (5,007 found and 43,772 still missing). It’s a good resource to look for people you know or to report them missing as well.
As we know by now, the epicenters of the two quakes (7.1 and 7.5) took place along the Boconó-Morón-El Pilar fault system, in the central region of the country, not far from the coast and a bit over 100 miles from Caracas.
The earthquake happened during a national holiday, the Battle of Carabobo (June 24th). Most people were at home or at the beach. La Guaira, the beach city closest to caracas, was packed. It’s important to point out that this is the third time La Guaira has been hit by a massive natural disaster. The 1967 earthquake affected several structures in the area, but later, in 1999, the landslides of the Vargas tragedy destroyed thousands of homes and left many buildings with deep structural damage. Back in 1999, the Chávez government took terrible decisions during the reconstruction phase. Not only were they corrupt and inept during the aftermath, but they built cheap Misión Vivienda buildings, thousands of apartments for people who lost their homes, in the same critical areas affected by the landslides. Several of those buildings collapsed yesterday.
Recently, we had a conversation with Juan Carlos Gabaldón, our resident parasitologist and health expert, in which he explained how the government dismantled first responder structures and the health system via mismanagement and indifference. Asking the Doc about how can the private sector fill some of the gaps left by the disappearance of the state, he explained that there was no private sector structure that could replace the state in something like a natural disaster. We talked about the Vargas tragedy. That conversation was yesterday, just hours before the earthquakes, and he wrote about it in detail here.
Right now, we’re witnessing how chavismo’s incompetence is costing lives by the minute. The local management has no skill, resources nor will to manage a crisis. In 1999, after Hugo Chávez turned back key international help, the citizenship was left alone to deal with a humanitarian crisis—along with a somewhat existing state led by an inept group of small time crooks. Those small time crooks made the big leagues after they took apart that state.
Venezuela is an orphan nation, now dealing with an unprecedented crisis. While Delcy can’t afford the luxury to be picky about the help offered to the country, once again Venezuelans are left to fend off by themselves.
We know most of you are restless and looking for ways to help, so here’s some information you may find useful.
How to help
Rescue teams are requesting equipment in Chacao and La Guaira: Helmets, hammers, shovels, chisels, ladders, flashlights, wooden boards, gauze, masks, painkillers, surgical gloves, drinking water, and calorically-dense food. They need volunteers and heavy machinery operators. Volunteers must wear a helmet to assist in rescue operations.
We Love Foundation is providing food, water, medical support, hygiene kits, shelter supplies, logistics, and direct support for vulnerable families on the ground. They have worked with global partners and Venezuelan nonprofits for the past 13 years.
The Gio Foundation is a humanitarian and animal aid non-profit organization accepting donations through their portal.
Aldeas Infantiles SOS accepts donations in bolívares through the Venezuelan branch. Donations in foreign currencies can be sent through Aldeas Infantiles SOS Spain.
Donations to Save the Children’s Emergency Fund will go towards providing urgent, life-saving support to Venezuelan children.
The Miami-based Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched a fundraising campaign to provide food, water, medicine, shelter, and emergency relief.
UNICEF Spain has launched an Emergency Fund for Venezuelan children.
Help update databases with reports of missing and found persons, and damages to infrastructure.
Where to report or identify missing persons
Several online platforms have been created to help locate missing people and reunite families.
Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela compiles citizen reports of missing persons and provides updates on confirmed cases.
Registro de Personas Desaparecidas also allows users to report missing individuals and search existing records.
TerremotoVE enables users to submit information about collapsed buildings, missing persons, incidents, and relief collection centers. The platform also maintains a public database where registered events and reports can be consulted.
Hazlo Hoy compiles pretty much all of the above.
Areas affected
La Guaira state: Dozens of buildings collapsed in Catia la Mar, Mamo, La Guaira, and Los Corales. The Maiquetía airport was damaged and remains closed. Thousands of people are missing.
Miranda state and Libertador municipality: The earthquakes hit Caracas and surrounding cities, like Los Teques, San Antonio de los Altos, and Guatire. The capital saw several buildings falling down, especially on the Ávila mountain slopes, where soil is known to magnify the shockwaves of earthquakes. Altamira, Los Palos Grandes, Bello Campo, Sebucán, Pinto Salinas and San Bernardino show extensive damage.
Aragua state: At least one building fell in Turmero and several others are damaged in Maracay.
Carabobo state: Damage in Valencia, San Joaquín and Morón, among other cities. One (among many) development to watch is the state of State-owned petrochemical complex Pequiven in Moron, where social media showed apparent damage in tanks and other facilities that might lead to a fire.
Falcón state: At least one building fell in the beach city of Tucacas.
Response of the international community
Several governments across the Americas have expressed solidarity with Venezuela and offered assistance following the earthquake.
United States: Donald Trump said the US stands “ready, willing and able” to help Venezuela. The president instructed federal agencies to prepare humanitarian support quickly. After offering his condolences, Marco Rubio said the State Department immediately deployed search and rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela. On Thursday morning, Rubio told reporters he talked to Delcy Rodríguez. “We’re already deploying SAR teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles.”
El Salvador: Nayib Bukele announced the immediate deployment of a contingent of 300 rescue workers and paramedics, along with 50 tons of medicines, medical supplies, and emergency equipment ready to be sent to Caracas. Hours later, Delcy Rodríguez thanked Bukele and welcomed the offer.
Ecuador: Daniel Noboa said he ordered the immediate dispatch of humanitarian assistance.
Chile: José Antonio Kast expressed its government’s full willingness to deploy rescue personnel and humanitarian assistance to affected areas if requested by Venezuelan authorities. Delcy Rodríguez welcomed the message.
Argentina: The President’s Office issued an official statement offering humanitarian assistance in coordination with international organizations. Describes the situation as a natural catastrophe that demands a reaction from the international community as a whole.
Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum said she ordered the preparation of necessary aid. Venezuelan authorities requested SAR and healthcare personnel from Mexico. Delcy spoke of Mexico’s experience with likewise situations during her Thursday evening speech. Rescue teams like Topos de Tlatelolco are monitoring the situation and offering to help if requested under international protocols.
Israel: The Foreign Ministry is reportedly preparing a situation assessment for a possible deployment of an Israeli aid mission to Venezuela.
Spain: Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said AECID, the Spanish international cooperation agency, was ready to offer all the necessary aid. The Urban Search and Rescue mission said it was ready to send 54 army rescuers to Venezuela. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the community of Madrid, also announced the assistance of Madrid’s ERICAM search and rescue team.
France: French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 85 search and rescue workers would be immediately deployed to Venezuela.
Germany: Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius announced the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) would provide up to six A400M planes for emergency transportation and medical evacuation efforts.
Italy: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani announced they would “immediately send personnel from the Farnesina Crisis Unit, the Ministry of Defense, the Fire Brigade, and Civil Protection.”
Caracas Chronicles has been able to hang on for 23 years in one of the craziest media landscapes in the world. We know that your money is probably more useful elsewhere, considering what’s going on in Venezuela, but if you’d like to help us cover this new and completely unexpected crisis a paid subscription to our Substack goes a long way—if you’re in a position to give a bit more you can do it here. And to check out other options to subscribe to our Political Risk Report go here.
Caritas is also taking donations for Venezuela, BTW.
Thanks for keeping us informed about the Earthquake.