Weeks after two powerful earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela, a Cuban woman has come to terms with news she hoped wasn't true: her parents and other family members, who had been missing since the disaster, perished beneath the rubble.
Mabel Hernández, living in Venezuela, shared an emotional post on Facebook, publicly addressing her family's tragic loss from the earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that struck on June 24, just 39 seconds apart.
"Many are asking how I'm doing today. It was truly an incredibly tough blow. I'm still searching for their bodies, which hasn't been easy. I can only say that I'm standing thanks to the strength God has given me, because without Him, I couldn't endure such pain," she expressed.
The post marked the end of weeks filled with uncertainty and hope. On June 26, two days post-earthquake, Mabel had reported that she, her husband Pastor Hernán Ramos, and her son Yosdany Quintana survived, but her parents, a brother, sister-in-law, and several nephews were trapped beneath a collapsed building in Naiguatá, La Guaira state.
The following day, she turned to social media once more to seek aid and draw attention to her family's plight.
"My family is trapped, and they haven't been rescued yet. It's been three days, and very little has been done. It's a time of great desperation, but I am still hoping for a miracle from God," she wrote.
On June 28, she posted a photo of machinery clearing debris from the site where her family remained trapped.
"This is still where my entire family is... We're continuing to intercede," she stated alongside the image.
As days passed, her messages suggested that hope for finding them alive was fading. On July 9, she posted a reflection that many saw as a farewell.
"Thank you, Abba, for allowing me to be with them eight months before their departure. What comforts me most is knowing it was all according to your will," she wrote.
The immense sorrow was also evident in the words of her son, Yosdany Quintana, who on July 15 paid tribute to his grandparents with a message encapsulating the family's ordeal.
"Just 39 seconds, right in front of my eyes, and I couldn't do anything... What more do you want, life? You've already taken four from me... MY POWERFUL MOM and my SUPER GRANDPA," he posted.
The Aftermath of a Devastating Tragedy
Mabel Hernández's story is part of the broader tragedy that befell the Cuban community in Venezuela following the June 24 earthquakes.
According to reports from citizen platforms and independent media, over 30 Cubans were declared missing, primarily from the coastal towns of Naiguatá, Caraballeda, Catia La Mar, and Los Corales in La Guaira state.
Among the confirmed victims was the family of Yadina de la Caridad Yáñez Linares. Six members of her family were found dead on June 29 beneath the rubble of the Oasis Beach and Resjurel buildings in Playa Grande.
As families and friends frantically sought information, the Cuban regime stated on June 27 that it had "no official confirmation" of Cuban casualties. Nonetheless, by July 3, independent media had confirmed the deaths of at least eight Cuban nationals.
The latest official figures released by Venezuelan authorities reported 4,490 fatalities and 16,740 injuries from the earthquakes, while international agencies estimated tens of thousands of people missing, marking the disaster as one of the most severe natural calamities in Venezuela in over a century.
Understanding the Impact of the Venezuela Earthquakes
What were the magnitudes of the earthquakes in Venezuela?
The earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24 had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurring just 39 seconds apart.
How many Cuban citizens were reported missing after the earthquakes?
Over 30 Cuban citizens were reported missing, mainly from coastal areas in La Guaira state.
What was the response of the Cuban regime to the earthquake casualties?
The Cuban regime initially stated there was no official confirmation of Cuban casualties, but independent media confirmed the deaths of at least eight Cubans by July 3.