A family narrowly escaped the collapse of the Litoral Suite Hotel in La Guaira, Venezuela, during the devastating earthquakes on June 24, 2026. These twin quakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck the nation just 39 seconds apart.
Sabrina, known on social media as @sabricg_, shared her harrowing experience, revealing that her family was the sole group to emerge alive from the collapsed building. The hotel, located on Playa Grande in La Guaira, gave way entirely under the immense force of the tremors.
"It's still hard to grasp, to accept... we survived such a massive earthquake, but beyond that, we were the only ones to make it out alive as the hotel crumbled around us," Sabrina expressed in her post.
Facing Death in La Guaira
She recounted the moment of collapse as an ultimate test of survival: "Amidst the deafening noise and utter panic, we stared death in the face."
Sabrina attributes their miraculous escape to divine intervention: "God has a great purpose for us; the final wall that was about to crush us simply stopped; it didn't completely fall."
Widespread Destruction Across the Coast
The Litoral Suite Hotel wasn't the only casualty in the area. The luxurious Hotel Eduard's in Macuto also succumbed during the earthquakes. Inside were family members and friends of baseball teams Guerreros de Lara and Delfines de La Guaira, including relatives of former players Gorkys Hernández and Eliezer Alfonzo.
Ex-baseball player Jenrry Mejía managed to escape from Hotel Eduard's, though he lost all his belongings, including his passport, and assisted others in evacuating. Mejía reported that some individuals remained missing beneath the rubble.
Aftermath of the Catastrophe
The coastal area of La Guaira has been designated a disaster zone, with over 100 buildings reduced to ruins. These earthquakes, centered near Morón in the state of Yaracuy at a shallow depth of just 13 km, are deemed the most destructive in Venezuela since 1900.
Official reports confirm at least 1,450 fatalities and over 3,200 injuries, while the UN estimates more than 50,000 people are still missing. The direct damages are assessed at $6.7 billion, according to the United Nations Development Program.
The US Geological Survey issued a Red Alert—their highest warning level—and estimated a 42% chance that the final death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000 individuals.
On Monday, a new aftershock of magnitude 4.6 struck 27 km north of Caraballeda, keeping the coastal population on high alert as rescue teams continue their efforts amidst the debris.
"There are moments that define a before and after, and this earthquake has undoubtedly changed our lives and those of many others," Sabrina concluded, capturing the profound impact faced by thousands of survivors in Venezuela following the country's worst seismic disaster in over a century.
Frequently Asked Questions about Venezuela's Earthquake Disaster
How many people died in the Venezuela earthquakes?
Official reports confirm at least 1,450 deaths, but estimates suggest the final toll could be as high as 10,000 to 100,000.
What caused the collapse of the Litoral Suite Hotel?
The hotel collapsed due to the extreme force of two consecutive earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5.
What was the response of the US Geological Survey to the earthquakes?
The US Geological Survey issued a Red Alert, indicating the highest level of warning, and predicted a significant death toll.