A video that has recently gained widespread attention is stirring considerable debate on social media. It captures a tense interaction between Diosdado Cabello and an American rescuer amid the rubble in La Guaira, as emergency teams race against time to locate survivors of the devastating June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela.
The footage, recorded in the hardest-hit area by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, shows the rescue team member firmly instructing, “Back up, back up,” while pointing to a specific spot amidst the debris.
The rescuer informs Diosdado Cabello, the Venezuelan regime's Interior Minister, “There’s someone right here yelling for help,” as Cabello remains at the operation’s perimeter, unmoved for several seconds.
Cabello is heard responding in the video, “Back up. Back to the truck. Back to the truck.”
Expressing frustration, the rescuer concludes the exchange, “I’m not happy with this situation.”
A second video from a different angle captures a direct question: “You don’t want me to go and help the person over there?”
The clips quickly spread across X, Instagram, and other platforms, with thousands of users interpreting the situation as a deliberate hindrance to rescue efforts.
Official Narrative: Context or Excuse?
Darvinson Rojas, a pro-government journalist, uploaded a five-minute video on Instagram offering additional context, presenting an alternative perspective on the incident.
According to Rojas, Cabello was not obstructing the rescue but was instead requesting that a vehicle belonging to the American team remain off to prevent noise that could interfere with detecting potential survivors.
“Cabello asked that an American team’s truck remain off to avoid generating noise in the area and not disrupt the search for trapped individuals. To resolve the situation, he offered to help push the vehicle to move it without the engine running,” the journalist stated.
Minimizing ambient noise is indeed a standard protocol in urban rescue operations. However, this account has not been independently verified by either Venezuelan authorities or the American delegation.
The explanation has failed to quell the controversy.
Mixed Reactions: Skepticism, Criticism, and Calls for Calm
A large portion of users dismissed the official narrative, with comments like “Hiding something,” “What are they covering up?” and “Let them work, what’s being hidden?” being commonly echoed.
Direct criticisms of Cabello also abound: “Since when is he a rescue specialist?” or “All he does is boss around and doesn’t lift a finger,” reflecting widespread skepticism about his role in the operation.
Many messages labeled the incident as “pure show” and accused the government of manipulating the context.
Others highlighted the urgency of the situation with phrases like “They had 25 million at their hands” and “Tick tock, tick tock.”
A minority partially defended the explanation: “There’s no mystery: rescuers need silence to hear possible survivors. If there are vehicles, they should be moved without turning them on,” one commenter argued.
Amid the polarization, some voices called for a humanitarian focus: “The important thing is to locate and rescue people alive.”
Outrage from Congress Members Carlos Giménez and María Elvira
Cuban-American congressman Carlos Giménez expressed outrage at the footage, recalling that Cabello has a $25 million bounty on his head.
“While the U.S. increases its presence in Venezuela, we should arrest the criminal Diosdado Cabello and bring him to justice to stop obstructing aid distribution to earthquake victims,” the Republican legislator wrote on X.
Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar did not remain silent either.
“Only a criminal would stand between rescuers and those trapped under debris. And that’s exactly what Diosdado Cabello is. The Delcy Rodríguez regime must understand this clearly: they must allow all humanitarian aid from around the world to enter Venezuela. Let the rescue teams do the work your government is incapable of doing,” she wrote on X.
A Preexisting Climate of Distrust
This incident doesn't happen in isolation. The Maduro regime has faced criticism since the emergency began. On June 26, Cabello himself announced restricted access to La Guaira starting at 8 p.m., sparking a wave of public outrage.
Meanwhile, the international response is underway. The United States has deployed the Virginia Task Force 1, Florida Task Force 1, and the USAID DART team, committing $150 million in humanitarian aid.
American rescuers have already managed to save a baby and her mother after they were trapped under debris for 32 hours.
The official toll stands at at least 1,450 dead, more than 3,238 injured, and over 50,000 missing, according to the UN, marking the largest natural disaster Venezuela has faced in decades.
Understanding the Venezuelan Earthquake Crisis
What caused the tension between Diosdado Cabello and the American rescuer?
The tension arose when the rescuer insisted on moving debris to help a person in distress, while Cabello reportedly instructed to keep a vehicle off to reduce noise, which was perceived as interference in rescue efforts.
How has the international community responded to the Venezuelan earthquakes?
The United States has sent rescue teams Virginia Task Force 1, Florida Task Force 1, and the USAID DART team, and committed $150 million in humanitarian aid. Other international efforts are also underway to assist Venezuela in this crisis.
What is the current impact of the earthquakes in Venezuela?
As per the UN reports, the earthquakes have resulted in at least 1,450 deaths, over 3,238 injuries, and more than 50,000 people missing, marking one of the most significant natural disasters in Venezuela's history.