Lázara Yumara Villaurrutia Rodríguez, a 35-year-old doctor from Matanzas, Cuba, has been missing along with her Venezuelan husband, Juan Simón Leca, and their seven-month-old son, Sebastián, for five days. Their disappearance follows the collapse of the building where they lived in Playa Grande, Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, Venezuela. Despite the urgency, Cuban authorities have not yet provided any answers to the family.
The alarm regarding their whereabouts was raised on Facebook by Matanzas journalist Yirmara Torres Hernández. She shared the plea on behalf of a friend and former classmate of the missing doctor. "Her family is desperate, professor, they know nothing... Her friends are in despair," the friend expressed in a message to Torres Hernández.
The family's residence was completely destroyed on June 24 after two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart at 6:04 PM local time. These were the strongest tremors recorded in the country since 1900, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Since the incident, no family member has been able to contact the three missing individuals. However, Torres Hernández maintained a thread of hope in her post: "People are still being found alive, so there is hope that this family can also be found alive."
Villaurrutia's case is not isolated. According to the citizen platform Encuéntralos and the independent outlet elToque, at least 29 to 32 Cubans have been reported missing in Venezuela following the earthquakes, primarily in the La Guaira state.
As families await news, the Cuban regime's response has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and delays. On June 27, Ana Teresita González Fraga, Director of Consular Affairs at MINREX, stated that Cuba "has no official confirmation of wounded, deceased, or missing nationals," contradicting citizen reports that include names and specific locations.
On June 28, President Miguel Díaz-Canel claimed to maintain "constant contact with Venezuelan authorities," yet the government publicly prioritized the safety of the Cuban medical brigade—comprising around 12,930 health collaborators—while neglecting the plight of Cuban citizens residing in the devastated areas.
Only on Monday, five days post-disaster, did MINREX officially acknowledge the death of a Cuban, Lupercio Adrian D'Pérez y Pando, and set up hotlines for reports: 7 8321484 in Cuba and 02129914635 / 04123332625 at the Consulate in Venezuela. Previously, on June 27, the body of Cuban Vanessa Martínez was found.
Among the documented missing Cubans by citizen platforms are Ady Zaldívar, 64, in Caraballeda; Michel Luis Curbelo Moreira, a 34-year-old physiotherapist; and the family of Channette Martínez, with her husband and eight-year-old son Matías.
The catastrophe has resulted in over 1,700 deaths, more than 3,238 injuries, and UN estimates of up to 50,000 missing individuals, with over 250 buildings either collapsed or damaged in La Guaira alone, the area where the Matanzas doctor resided with her family.
FAQs about the Earthquake in Venezuela
What was the magnitude of the earthquakes in Venezuela?
The earthquakes were recorded at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
How many Cubans are reported missing after the earthquakes?
Between 29 and 32 Cubans have been reported missing in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
What has been the Cuban government's response to the missing citizens?
The Cuban government has been criticized for its slow and opaque response, with delayed acknowledgment of the situation and prioritization of the medical brigade over individual citizens.