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A damaged building is pictured in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on June 29, 2026 — Reuters.
– The USGS reports a 4.6-magnitude aftershock north of Caracas.
– La Guaira remains the focus as search efforts enter their fifth day around the clock.
– Residents in El Junquito accuse officials of slow and uneven aid distribution.
Frustration is mounting across Venezuela over the sluggish and disorganized aid response in towns hardest hit by last Wednesday’s twin earthquakes.
In El Junquito, a small mountainous area about 20 miles west of Caracas, locals say they’ve seen very few government officials, while farmers and residents have been voluntarily providing supplies to the community.
“We’re waiting for answers—debris to be cleared, inspections to be completed, and assistance for those most affected,” said Keily Ibarra, a 33-year-old manicurist who has been raising community complaints to authorities. She urged the government to take decisive action.
The town’s commercial district was mostly destroyed, with collapsed structures evident during a recent visit by Reuters. Some residents with nowhere else to go have pitched tents in an open field, despite the danger posed by nearby damaged and fallen buildings.
“We don’t know where we’re going to be placed or how long we’ll stay here,” shared Tony Abreu, owner of a local candy store. He’s been living in a tent since the earthquakes, since his home and business are unsafe.
Elsewhere, a hotel near Maiquetía Airport—where more than 140 deportees, including seven children, were staying while being processed—collapsed during the tremors, according to two deported families. Most are believed to have been killed.
The government’s Return to the Homeland Grand Mission, which oversees deportee processing, posted videos online of arrivals, including children receiving toys, last Wednesday.
While international aid groups have mobilized, most assistance has been concentrated in La Guaira, the hardest-hit Venezuelan state amidst the country’s ongoing political and economic crises.
The global community has responded quickly, with 30 nations providing support, including over 3,600 rescue and support personnel, 118 search-and-rescue dogs, and 1,000 metric tons of supplies.
The death toll continues to climb. Jorge Rodríguez, brother of the acting president and head of the National Assembly, announced Monday that confirmed fatalities stand at 1,719, with over 5,000 injured and nearly 16,000 displaced.
Power outages earlier Monday hampered the restart of a refinery, a petrochemical complex, and other industrial facilities in central Venezuela, industry sources said.
Despite these setbacks, state oil producer PDVSA expects no domestic fuel shortages, as refineries in the east and west can meet current demand—even with increased usage by rescue teams. Oil production and exports are currently stable.
Homes in Caracas trembled from an aftershock early Monday, while rescue teams worked continuously for their fifth day in search of survivors.
The 4.6-magnitude quake originated north of Caracas at a 10-kilometer depth, according to the US Geological Survey. No immediate damage reports were made, but the ongoing aftershocks continue to challenge rescue efforts and diminish hopes of finding survivors.
One remarkable rescue involved 21-year-old Aaron Levi, pulled from a collapsed building in La Guaira after 106 hours trapped beneath the debris—a rescue operation that lasted nearly two days, according to Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez.
Following the updated death toll, Rodríguez announced that 15 shelters and 50 makeshift camps had been established across La Guaira to assist those affected.
He praised the Venezuelan people’s resilience and calmness, warning against misinformation and urging citizens not to be swayed by rumors or social media manipulations that could incite unrest.
“Ignore rumors and misinformation. Only official sources carry the truth,” Rodríguez emphasized.
A senior US government official confirmed the deaths of three Americans and listed 12 missing persons. The State Department’s task force has received over 300 inquiries from Americans seeking assistance. It is estimated that around 5,000 US citizens currently reside in Venezuela.
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