In Caracas, this feels like the hardest moment in Venezuela's modern history
After dual earthquakes, residents of Caracas and coastal towns face devastation with no government support, relying only on mutual aid.
Every morning Venezuelans wake to a darker, grimmer reality after two powerful earthquakes. Many still await news of missing loved ones, while survivors struggle with nightmares and panic.
Former policeman Jan Carlos Roa Garcia and his family are sleeping rough. Their building in Caracas did not collapse but is too dangerous to return to. With tears streaming, he says he does not know how to rebuild his family's life. "If I was 30 and not 50, then maybe. But I don't know where to begin. And so far, no-one in authority has contacted us," he says.
Musician Zaira Castro is more outspoken: "We're all pretty frustrated because the government is not showing what it should – a serious display of help. It's actually us, the Venezuelans, who are helping each other. We don't depend on the government – that doesn't exist for us anymore."
In the Chacao district, Interim President Delcy Rodriguez toured with the mayor and faced residents' anger. "You're campaigning in the middle of a tragedy! The government isn't doing anything for the people," one resident yelled.
In the worst-hit areas, especially the coastal town of La Guaira, desperation is even greater. Over 100 buildings have collapsed. "There are still people in there, we need machinery," says affected resident Eileen Lada. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and a healthcare system underfunded for decades now struggles with a massive influx of patients.
Rescue teams say the first 48 hours are crucial; those have long passed. This now feels like the hardest moment in Venezuela's modern history in a country that has had more than its fair share of suffering in recent years.
