Caracas and La Guaira, Venezuela —
Venezuelans are grappling with tough questions about whether their country can bounce back, or whether the cracks are just too deep after years of economic and political strife and now suffering from devastating twin earthquakes.
Rescue teams and nearby residents are still searching for survivors as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer, leaving more than 1,400 dead and thousands more missing.
“It’s going to be a very difficult day,” said Neida Pernilla, a resident of Caracas. Her apartment in the Venezuelan capital was destroyed by Wednesday’s magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that occurred within seconds. But she says she is one of the luckier ones, saying she and her relatives survived.
“I think we have to learn from everything we’re going through. Life is fleeting, it’s just a moment. We have to be grateful to God, to the Virgin Mary, to whatever faith we have for the fact that we’re alive. And we have to be more human, more cooperative, more humble.”
The earthquake hit millions of people, rich and poor, especially in the north of the country. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez told Venezuelans they are not alone. However, decades of economic mismanagement have made it difficult for the government to respond to natural disasters, in addition to protracted humanitarian crises.
Residents turned to shops in the port city of La Guaira, one of the worst-hit areas, to get essential supplies.
The city, just 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the capital, lacks food and clean water and is now largely isolated due to collapsed roads and damaged bridges.
“Our family is digging through the rubble and trying to find our relatives. My 82-year-old mother, brother, daughter and her boyfriend are still missing,” said Milady Duque, 43.
Aerial video shows scale of destruction caused by twin earthquakes that hit Venezuela
Aerial video shows scale of destruction caused by twin earthquakes that hit Venezuela
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Her family lived on the second floor of the Luisa Cáceres de Arizmendi building, a government housing complex completed by ousted President Nicolás Maduro in 2015.
“This situation is very sad, not only for me, but for all of Venezuela. There are no words to explain the feeling of fear that my family is trapped there,” Duque told CNN. “I feel like my hands are tied and it’s very difficult.”
Lindmar Mila’s sister and brother-in-law are among those known to have died in the Playa Los Cocos area of La Guaira.
“My heart is broken, but I thank God that we now know where they are,” Mila told CNN, sitting outside the Caracas morgue where the bodies were taken. “There are families from all over the country who still don’t know if their relatives are dead or alive. It’s very difficult.”
Many residents of La Guaira remember a past tragedy in December 1999, when the city was hit by a massive landslide after heavy rains. No official death toll has been released, but researchers at the Central University of Venezuela estimate that about 15,000 people died.
“This was much worse than the landslide,” Mira said. “So many people are still looking for their loved ones. Some have traveled to La Guaira and found buildings that no longer exist.”
fog of sadness and tension
Hundreds of aftershocks shook buildings and nerves as the seconds ticked down during the so-called 72-hour golden window during which victims are most likely to be found alive in the rubble.
Cheers erupt as survivors are rescued. It is a moment of relief and even joy, an emotional release from the sadness and tension that is palpable on the streets.
However, many people are still missing. As the days pass and tropical heat hits the affected areas, many people are resorting to wearing masks to protect themselves from the smell of death and decay.
See in photos: Powerful earthquake hits Venezuela
“I feel so much pain and anxiety,” said Susana Henriques, standing behind yellow tape shielding her and others from the remains of the upper-middle-class Petunia housing complex in the capital’s Palos Grandes neighborhood. Two towers stood on the tree-lined avenue behind the gate that protected the community. Enriquez fled from his home in Petunia II. The other tower also collapsed.
“I want to believe that our neighbors on the Petunia River will survive and be rescued,” Enriquez told CNN.
She is a reminder of humanity and the full lives of all those trapped and missing. More than numbers, they are friends and relatives known by name. “I have a lot of friends there,” Enriquez said, holding back tears.
Many families here are used to living with less. The cost of food is more than most people can earn even with multiple jobs, and the combination of an economic crisis and a repressive government has forced millions of Venezuelans to send money to countries as far away as neighboring Colombia and the United States in search of a better life.
Currently, Venezuelans are gathering to collect water, medicine, food, and clothing for those affected by the earthquake.
Mariana Sanchez, a 20-year-old student, was walking through Caracas carrying a bag filled with supplies for people in need.
“A group of us friends decided to get together and start collecting food and other supplies to give to those affected. We’ve seen groups from several other universities come together like this,” she said. “People are so grateful. In times like these, it’s so encouraging to see Venezuelans come together and lift each other up.”
Collection points have also been set up in cities with large Venezuelan populations, such as Miami, New York and Madrid.
“No matter how many years have passed since I left Venezuela, I always feel it when this country is hurting,” Miami resident Marcos Mirabal told CNN at a donation drive. “I brought diapers, flashlights, clothes. My girls have a lot of clothes, and there are a lot of children in this country who are suffering right now.”
Some people, not content with simply surviving, ask whether Venezuela could have responded more quickly if it had had a stronger emergency service with better equipment, or if it had invested more in strengthening its infrastructure against known risks.
“I can’t believe this is 2026 and this country is still being run like this,” Gustavo Quintero told CNN. “We have to find the names of our loved ones on handwritten pieces of paper. Firefighters don’t have the resources they need to help people. They don’t even have minimal logistics.”
Venezuela has been in trouble for decades, but for people like 18-year-old law student Miguel Martinez, the focus now is on the immediate question of whether his classmate can be rescued alive. If we do that, we may be able to see a better future.
“We will never give up,” Martinez told CNN. “We have already been through a lot and all we can do is encourage each other when the going gets tough.”
