One month after the devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coastline, families continue searching through the rubble for missing relatives while thousands remain displaced and communities struggle to recover.
The disaster claimed more than 5,300 lives, injured over 16,500 people and caused an estimated $19.6 billion in damage, making it one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
Families Continue Search for Missing Relatives
For many survivors, the search has not ended.
Fisherman Victor Calderan lost 26 members of his family when their apartment building collapsed in Caraballeda while he was at sea.He says he cannot fully grieve until every missing family member is found.
Search and recovery teams continue working through destroyed residential buildings where bodies are still being recovered weeks after the earthquakes.
Rescue Teams Face Difficult Recovery Operations
Rescue workers remain active in some of the hardest-hit areas, particularly around the OPPE 26 housing complex in Caraballeda.
The recovery process has become increasingly challenging as unstable buildings, damaged infrastructure and limited resources slow operations.
Families continue gathering near collapsed buildings, hoping for news about missing loved ones.
Survivors Question Building Safety
Many residents have raised concerns about why multiple apartment blocks collapsed during the earthquakes.
Survivors have questioned whether construction standards, building materials or structural design contributed to the scale of destruction.
Government officials have defended the buildings, arguing that the nearly simultaneous earthquakes created exceptional conditions that no infrastructure could fully withstand.
Thousands Remain Displaced Across Venezuela
Large numbers of survivors continue living in temporary shelters and tents while waiting for permanent housing.
Although authorities have begun relocating some affected families, reconstruction is expected to take years because of the enormous financial and logistical challenges facing the country.
The World Bank estimates physical damage from the earthquakes reached nearly $19.6 billion, affecting homes, infrastructure and businesses across the disaster zone.
Recovery Expected to Take Years
International humanitarian organisations continue providing emergency food, water and medical assistance to affected communities.
Rescue operations remain ongoing in several locations as authorities continue searching for missing people while planning long-term rebuilding efforts.
For many Venezuelan families, however, the priority remains finding loved ones still trapped beneath the rubble one month after the disaster.
