Elena Rocha, a resident of Caribbean Golf I in Caraballeda, La Guaira, voiced her frustration on Monday over the delayed response of rescue teams following the earthquakes on June 24, 2026. She believes this delay ultimately led to the tragic loss of her son.
"The rescuers took too long to arrive here. I was searching, begging for help, and my son could have been saved if they had come sooner," Rocha recounted.
Her son was trapped between the building's bars and a concrete wall. The volunteers attempting to free him lacked the necessary equipment for the rescue.
"Those trying to save him were working tirelessly, but they needed a cutting disc to free him. He was completely stuck, and there was no other way to get him out," she explained.
Rocha described how she had to leave the site to search for materials in a nearby building, while her son remained alive beneath the rubble. Tragically, help arrived too late.
"I cried until I had no tears left. They took ages to get here. The delay was significant not just for us but also for neighboring buildings like Carinamar and Parque Caraballeda," Rocha lamented.
The outcome was heartbreaking: Elena Rocha lost not only her son but also her husband.
"Now I'm alone, without my husband and my two sons, but God will give me the strength to move forward," she stated.
Rocha's account highlights a troubling pattern of uneven rescue efforts in La Guaira, where some areas received immediate attention while others were left waiting without adequate resources.
The tragedy was sparked by two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, occurring just 39 seconds apart, with their epicenter near Morón, Carabobo.
The coastal region of Caraballeda, densely populated and home to numerous aging residential complexes, was among the hardest hit.
Years of institutional decline in Venezuela exacerbated a chronic shortage of heavy machinery and specialized equipment, severely hampering the response effort.
Despite the deployment of over 25 international teams from 17 countries, the scale of the disaster overwhelmed available resources.
The Venezuelan government also faced criticism for militarizing affected areas, which hindered access for volunteers and medical personnel.
As of Monday, official figures reported 1,450 confirmed deaths and 3,238 injuries, while the UN estimated over 50,000 missing and 6.76 million affected.
The U.S. Geological Survey projected a 42% probability of a final death toll ranging between 10,000 and 100,000 due to the earthquakes.
Amid the devastation, some moments of hope emerged as international teams rescued a 10-month-old baby and an 11-year-old boy from the rubble in La Guaira. However, for many families like Elena Rocha's, timely help remained elusive.
Understanding the Rescue Efforts in Venezuela
What caused the delay in rescue operations in La Guaira?
The delay was attributed to a chronic shortage of heavy machinery and specialized equipment, worsened by years of institutional decline in Venezuela. Additionally, prioritization of some areas over others contributed to the uneven response.
How did the Venezuelan government respond to criticism regarding the rescue efforts?
Criticism was directed at the Venezuelan government for militarizing affected zones, which restricted access for volunteers and medical teams. This approach was seen as hindering timely rescue efforts.
What are the projected casualty numbers from the earthquakes?
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated a 42% chance of the final death toll being between 10,000 and 100,000, due to the severity of the earthquakes and the extensive damage they caused.