Venezuelan journalist Alejandra Oraa, hailing from La Guaira, shared an emotional video on her X account this Thursday, showcasing images of the region before the earthquakes. Her aim is to remind the world not to reduce her homeland to the tragedy that brought it international attention.
The video footage was captured by Daril Jiménez, a Venezuelan photographer and creator of the project "Es La Guaira en Fotos." For years, Jiménez documented the coastal state's beauty, unaware that these images would become an invaluable archive. "This audiovisual material owes its existence to Daril Jiménez, who unknowingly captured the most beautiful images of the state that we cherish. Today, these are gold," Oraa wrote when sharing the video.
In the video, the journalist, originally from Tanaguarena, nostalgically revisits places that defined her childhood: Los Corales, Macuto, Caraballeda, Naiguatá, Catia La Mar, the port, and the Maiquetía airport.
The Unique Beauty of La Guaira
"La Guaira is a unique strip in Venezuela. On one side is the Caribbean, and on the other, the Ávila, almost tumbling directly into the sea. It's one of the few places where, in a single image, you can see buildings, a highway, mountains, and the beach," she describes in the audio.
Her message highlights the stark contrast between living memory and recent devastation: "La Guaira is Caribbean, mountain, port, airport, history, childhood. It was fried fish, hot sand, Sunday traffic, returning to Caracas with salt in your hair. For many, it's a place of farewell, but for others, it will always be home."
Tragic Earthquakes and Devastation
On June 24, 2026, two consecutive earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and only 39 seconds apart, shook northern Venezuela, with epicenters in Yaracuy and Carabobo. La Guaira was the hardest hit area: over 250 buildings collapsed, including the José María Vargas Hospital, while in Catia La Mar, 158 out of 189 buildings were destroyed.
The Venezuelan government reported as of July 1 that there were 2,295 fatalities, 11,267 injured, and 12,841 displaced, whereas the United Nations estimates up to 50,000 people might be missing.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a Red Alert, predicting a 42% chance that the final death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000. Material damages are estimated at $6.7 billion, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela's GDP.
Historical Context of Destruction
Access to the state was restricted by the Venezuelan regime starting Friday, June 26, complicating efforts to assess the catastrophe's full scope. Since the main quakes, over 130 aftershocks have been recorded.
This isn't the first time these communities have faced historical-scale destruction. On December 15, 1999, the then Vargas state was ravaged by the Vargas mudslide, considered the deadliest mudslide in history by the Guinness Book of Records, with between 10,000 and 30,000 deaths and around 75,000 displaced.
The same areas now in ruins—Caraballeda, Macuto, Los Corales, Naiguatá, Tanaguarena—were buried under mud less than 30 years ago.
Oraa concluded her post with a phrase encapsulating the video's spirit: "That's why it hurts so much to see it like this, because when a tragedy strikes a place like La Guaira, it's not just the buildings that fall. The streets broke, routines shattered, memories, and especially pieces of life. This is the La Guaira I knew, and this is the La Guaira I never want the world to forget."
La Guaira's Earthquake Impact
What was the magnitude of the earthquakes that hit La Guaira in 2026?
The earthquakes that struck La Guaira on June 24, 2026, had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
How many people were affected by the earthquakes in La Guaira?
The Venezuelan government reported 2,295 deaths, 11,267 injuries, and 12,841 people displaced. The UN estimates up to 50,000 people might be missing.
What are the estimated material damages from the earthquakes in Venezuela?
Material damages from the earthquakes are estimated at $6.7 billion, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela's GDP.