One month after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, rescue efforts continue in the rubble-strewn ruins of collapsed buildings, with families still searching for missing loved ones. The tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, left at least 5,346 dead, over 16,740 injured, and more than 17,000 people homeless, according to official figures released this week. The hardest-hit area was La Guaira, a coastal state considered the epicenter of the disaster, where entire neighborhoods were reduced to debris. Despite ongoing search-and-rescue operations involving thousands of volunteers and international aid workers, many bodies remain unidentified, buried in mass graves or hidden beneath the wreckage. The tragedy has left countless families in anguish, struggling to find closure. Mariuth Arenas, whose brother-in-law, José David Vera Arenas, was last seen near the Solmarino Garden 2 residential complex in Playa Grande, La Guaira, continues his desperate search. His wife and two children were found dead under the rubble earlier this month, but José David’s body has yet to be recovered. The machinery used to clear the site was removed on July 20, leaving only three family members, Arenas, his father, and his brother, to keep digging. His brother suffered a broken arm while helping remove debris but refuses medical attention until he finds his sibling’s remains. “We can’t leave our relatives forgotten,” Arenas wrote on social media. “We won’t abandon them under the ruins.” Authorities have called for DNA samples from families to help identify victims, but they have not disclosed how many people are still missing. Official statements remain vague. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, mentioned that around 30,000 people were in La Guaira before the quake, with approximately 19,800 rescued or evacuated, suggesting nearly 10,000 remained unaccounted for in the state alone. The United Nations had previously received unconfirmed reports of up to 50,000 missing persons. These numbers add to the uncertainty surrounding the true death toll, which has fluctuated between 5,208 and 5,546 depending on the source. In another part of La Guaira, Gloriyen Aris searches for her cousin, Sacha Chagua, who disappeared during the earthquake. She last spoke to her mother shortly before the tremors hit. Sacha was visiting the beach with a friend on the national holiday of Carabobo, but she vanished soon after. Her family traced her to a collapsed building that had been flattened like an accordion, with upper-floor residents escaping but those below remaining trapped. They believe Sacha is among the 12 people still inside. The vehicle she arrived in was found ransacked, with one window shattered and her wallet stolen. Neighbors say security cameras from the building were also taken. “We’re trying to locate other buildings nearby that might have collapsed too,” Aris said. Search and rescue teams have faced numerous challenges, including aftershocks that have complicated recovery efforts. Since June 24, more than 1,400 smaller quakes have been recorded, making structural assessments difficult and delaying progress. International aid groups and volunteer organizations have joined local authorities in the effort, deploying over 2,280 foreign rescuers and mobilizing nearly 31,000 Venezuelan personnel. More than 31,745 volunteers have assisted in relief work, distributing food and water to affected communities. Over 10,965 tons of food and 40.65 million liters of water have been delivered so far. Despite these efforts, the psychological and emotional toll on survivors is immense. Many families have been forced to confront the reality that their loved ones may never be found. Some have turned to social media to share updates and seek support, while others have begun preparing for funerals without knowing whether the deceased will ever be identified. In some cases, bodies have already been interred in mass graves, raising concerns about the accuracy of identification processes. The government has emphasized its commitment to providing certainty through DNA testing, but the lack of transparency regarding the number of missing individuals has fueled frustration and distrust. As the one-month anniversary approaches, the focus shifts toward long-term recovery. Officials have announced plans to rebuild infrastructure and provide housing for displaced families, but the immediate challenge remains the search for the missing. With each passing day, hope diminishes for those waiting for answers. For families like Arenas’, the struggle continues, not just to find the bodies, but to reclaim a sense of dignity and peace.
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