'Help, we are trapped': Venezuela earthquake victims turn to Euronews' TikTok to beg for rescue
After two powerful earthquakes (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5) hit Venezuela, leaving 589 dead and thousands injured, survivors have taken to social media — including Euronews' Spanish-language TikTok livestream — to plead for rescue and search for missing loved ones.
Desperate pleas for help after devastating earthquakes
More than 24 hours after a double earthquake shook Venezuela on Wednesday night, many residents remain trapped or are desperately searching for missing relatives. Official figures report 589 dead and 2,980 injured, with hundreds still unaccounted for. In the chaos, people have turned to media and social networks for help.
A Euronews Spanish-language TikTok livestream covering rescue operations became a platform for urgent pleas. One of the most shared messages read: "🆘 Copy! Help, we are trapped on the 7th floor of Res. Caribe Mar, with two children and a five-month-old baby." Later, user Karina replied with an update: "@A.G🍒👸🏾 they have already been rescued."
Other users posted about specific locations. Aillon warned: "La Guaira, Los Cocos beach, oop27 tower A. There are lots of children." Yadira pleaded for help for Maxiori and her family at Res. Bahía de Mar, La Guaira. Eliobana Guerrero wrote: "Please help! Hotel Catimar, Puerto Viejo in Catia La Mar. People need to be rescued."
Searching for the missing and frustration with authorities
The livestream chat, sometimes drawing over a thousand concurrent users, also served as a tool to locate missing persons. Flaquitaaaaaaa asked: "My loves, Sabrina Melisa López Silva, in La Guaira - does anyone know anything about her?" Another user, identified only by a butterfly emoji, begged: "Help me find Julián Melian Amador 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨"
Many criticized the lack of resources for emergency services. Ceciliagomez599 demanded: "Where are the rescuers?" Some directed anger at the government of Delcy Rodríguez, who succeeded President Nicolás Maduro after he was seized by the United States in January. María a Gocha Orozco wrote: "If the Venezuelan government had the machinery and all the tools, there wouldn't be so many dead." In contrast, user Odreman struck a hopeful tone: "Lord Jesus Christ, give them strength and guide their hands with your power so that they can rescue everyone."
Users also offered assistance. Fabi🖤 said: "I have some lists of people; whoever wants them, write to me privately and I'll send them." Reimary noted that women are helping at collection centers.
