The Hotel Santuario La Llanada in Macuto, La Guaira, has been reduced to rubble following the devastating earthquakes on June 24.
In this now-destroyed site were 147 Venezuelans who had been deported from the United States. Their families are expressing growing concern as authorities block access to the area, preventing them from learning about the fate of their loved ones.
Reports indicate that neither humanitarian aid nor body recovery efforts are being allowed, heightening the mystery and anxiety surrounding this tragedy, according to an AP report.
Numerous individuals remain trapped under the debris, while desperate families struggle to reach the site.
Locked Away After Deportation
Flight 164 of the Gran Misión Vuelta a la Patria touched down on that Wednesday at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, carrying 120 men, 19 women, and seven children. These individuals had spent weeks or even months detained in U.S. immigration facilities in Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona, under the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies.
Upon arrival, they were taken by agents of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) to the Hotel Santuario La Llanada. This old building, located in a remote mountainous area and managed by the Fundación Misión Negra Hipólita, has become the customary reception point for deported Venezuelans since the initiation of the agreement between Washington and Caracas.
Just before 6:04 PM, less than three hours after their arrival, the region was struck by two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, only 39 seconds apart. The hotel collapsed as a result.
The aftermath was a nightmare: SEBIN agents refused to unlock the doors as the building crumbled.
"The repatriated were screaming for them to open the doors because it was shaking, but they didn't. They left them locked inside like criminals," said Yulis Salcedo, whose son survived the collapse.
Survivors' Harrowing Escapes
Lisbeth Portillo, 58, deported from Florida while awaiting asylum, found herself trapped under a beam but managed to escape when the structure shifted.
"I'm alive. I got out from under the rubble," she told her husband. She then embarked on a long trek for help: "We walked about five kilometers, and I cried and cried... there was no communication."
Jenny Rodríguez recounted the sense of abandonment to Noticias Telemundo: "They left us there alone. We hadn't been in that place for even three hours when the disaster began."
Joan, 28, survived because a bunk bed collapsed on him, cushioning the weight. He spent three hours digging himself out. "We survivors helped with the rescue, but we had no tools. We're talking about a roof weighing nearly 1,000 kilos—who can manage that?" shared another unidentified survivor.
Authorities Silent, Families Demand Answers
Only 12 survivors have been unofficially reported. Unverified reports from June 28 suggested that around 60 individuals might still be alive in the hotel's upper levels and basement.
The Venezuelan regime has not released any official list of victims, survivors, or missing persons from Flight 164 of the Gran Misión Vuelta a la Patria.
A government official reportedly told a relative of a missing person, "Stop asking, they're all dead."
Ángelo Mejía Meléndez, 27, was confirmed dead by a survivor four days later. His last message to his mother expressed hope: "I'm fine. We'll see each other soon." He had been looking forward to a family reunion that weekend.
Anderson Antonio Pérez, 33, residing in Montgomery, Alabama, last called his family at 4 PM on June 24 to say he'd be heading to Barquisimeto the next day. He has not been heard from since.
A National Catastrophe
As of June 29, the official death toll stood at 1,943, with 10,571 injured, according to Jorge Rodríguez, head of the Venezuelan National Assembly. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) classified these quakes as the most powerful in Venezuela since 1900, with a 42% chance that the death toll could reach between 10,000 and 100,000.
The United Nations estimates over 50,000 people missing nationwide, while the independent project Encuéntralos recorded between 55,000 and 60,000 unaccounted individuals, with only about 9,000 found.
The families of the deportees from Flight 164 continue to plead amidst the silence of the regime: "We just want to know where they are. If they're alive, where are they? And if not, tell us the truth."
Frequently Asked Questions About the Venezuelan Hotel Tragedy
What happened to the Hotel Santuario La Llanada?
The Hotel Santuario La Llanada collapsed after two powerful earthquakes struck on June 24, trapping many Venezuelans inside.
Why were the Venezuelans at the hotel?
The Venezuelans were deportees from the United States, housed at the hotel as part of the Gran Misión Vuelta a la Patria program.
Are there any survivors from the hotel collapse?
As of now, only a small number of survivors have been reported, and many are still feared trapped under the debris.
What are families of the victims demanding?
Families are demanding transparency from the authorities, seeking information about the whereabouts and condition of their loved ones.