Earthquakes in Venezuela: a psychologist in the disaster

Venezuela was struck by a series of earthquakes that left widespread destruction, particularly in the coastal city of La Guaira. The disaster has brought immense emotional and psychological trauma to survivors, with many families struggling to identify the dead and cope with their loss. A psychologist working on the ground described the harrowing experience of witnessing the devastation firsthand and the difficult process of helping affected individuals navigate their grief. The psychologist arrived in Venezuela aboard a plane carrying more than half of its passengers as humanitarian aid workers, including rescuers, firefighters, psychologists, and nurses. The arrival was deeply impactful, as the reality of the situation far exceeded what could be seen through television or social media. She described feeling small in the face of a town reduced to rubble. Her initial journey through La Guaira revealed a profound silence among hundreds of people who waited quietly as rescue workers raised their hands, a universal signal to stop engines and remain silent in hopes of hearing signs of life beneath the debris. This mixture of hope and despair marked the beginning of her work there. One of the most dire situations she encountered was the collapse of the port, which became a makeshift mortuary. With the infrastructure overwhelmed, the port was designated as the site for receiving the deceased. The contrast between the vast blue sea meeting the sky and the temporary tents housing some of the most painful images imaginable was striking. Families were forced to go through a grueling identification process, viewing photos of bodies on two television screens, one for men and one for women, alongside tablets used for children. Many had to recognize loved ones based on tattoos, clothing, or distinctive features such as "cholas," traditional garments. She observed what psychologists refer to as functional dissociation, where individuals suppress their pain to handle practical matters, delaying their mourning until they find their family members. Some arrived with evident devastation, while others returned solely to search for relatives. One young woman, after identifying her parents, expressed absolute sorrow, stating, “I came for them, but definitely after this, I have no reason to return to this country.” Throughout the day, the psychologist provided psychological support to families before, during, and after the identification process. She offered immediate psychological first aid, messages of self-care, and normalization of symptoms. She taught companions, family members, neighbors, friends, how to respond emotionally when someone becomes overwhelmed, as many lacked the skills to comfort others effectively. The emotional impact was severe: acute stress, nightmares, and sensory flashbacks so vivid that people felt the earth still trembling. In consultations, the psychologist worked with forensic personnel, students completing fieldwork amid the catastrophe, and even clergy, whose mental health had been affected. On one occasion, she sat with three religious figures who had been overwhelmed by the crisis. They had witnessed the earthquakes inside their church, praying under marble as everything collapsed, and now had to conduct funerals without rest. All were at breaking point. Other cases deeply moved her, especially those involving guilt. A 24-year-old mother recounted finding her one-year-old daughter after 15 days of searching. The expression on her face showed how much the child had suffered, and she could not forgive herself for it. Another woman shared the story of finding her nephew, whom she had raised like a son, with a severely disfigured body. Amidst the horror, the psychologist noted instances of solidarity and hope. Despite losing everything, some people cared for her. In the morgue, families distributing food would say, “Doctora, eat something, receive this,” showing compassion despite their own suffering.