As rescue teams sift through the rubble left by two devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, countless families—both within the country and abroad—are desperately turning to social media to locate their missing relatives.
A report compiled by the outlet Reporte Ya highlights that the lack of information has sparked "a wave of anguish" spreading across digital platforms, where photos, names, and contact numbers of people whose whereabouts are unknown are being shared widely.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and occurring just 39 seconds apart at 6:04 p.m. local time, have resulted in an updated death toll of 188, with 1,520 injured and 157 confirmed missing, according to official figures released on Thursday by Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly.
La Guaira state has been declared a disaster zone and has suffered the most severe damage, with over 100 buildings collapsed.
The coastal town of Naiguatá frequently emerges as the last known location of several missing individuals.
A friend posted a photo of Josdaliz Navas on Instagram with an urgent plea: "My friend Josdaliz Navas is missing along with her family. If anyone knows anything, please reach out."
In another documented case, a young woman's brother is missing, and she is asking for help with the same urgency: "This is my brother, please help me spread the word, I am grateful from the bottom of my heart. Urgent broadcast!!!!" His last known location was also Naiguatá, and anyone with information is encouraged to call the numbers 04124073740 or 04127842736.
A third case underscores the international dimension of this tragedy: someone in Chile—with the phone prefix +56—is searching for Oswaldo Rafael Reyes Santana and his caregiver Marienelly Padrón after confirming the building they lived in "completely collapsed."
This situation illustrates how the Venezuelan diaspora, spread across countries like Chile, Colombia, Spain, and the United States, has turned to social media in response to the deteriorating communication infrastructure in Venezuela.
Amidst the sorrow, there have been moments of hope: three siblings were rescued alive from the Mansión Charaima building in Caraballeda, where five of its eleven floors collapsed, and a baby was miraculously pulled unscathed from the debris by neighbors, in a video that went viral worldwide.
In contrast, in Catia La Mar, a young girl whose voice could be heard from beneath the wreckage tragically died before she could be rescued.
The twin earthquakes on Wednesday are considered the worst seismic event in Venezuela in over a century. The United States Geological Survey estimated a 42% chance that the final death toll could range from 10,000 to 100,000, although they clarified that this is an automatic projection from their PAGER system, not an actual count.
Reporte Ya has announced it will continue to publish the faces and information of missing individuals submitted by their followers, aiming to assist in their discovery.
FAQs on Venezuela Earthquake Crisis
How many people have been reported missing after the Venezuelan earthquakes?
As of the latest reports, 157 individuals have been confirmed missing following the earthquakes.
What is the estimated death toll range according to the US Geological Survey?
The United States Geological Survey has estimated a 42% probability that the final death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000.
Which area was most affected by the earthquakes?
La Guaira state has been declared a disaster zone and is the area most severely impacted, with over 100 buildings collapsed.