Venezuela shifts focus to clearing rubble and recovering bodies after twin earthquake

Venezuela has entered a new stage in its response to the June 24 twin earthquake, focusing on clearing rubble and recovering bodies. The official toll stands at 2,954 dead and over 16,500 injured. International rescue teams have largely departed, with operations now led by Venezuelan volunteers, firefighters, and residents.

Recovery Efforts

The coordination of operations was transferred from the UN to Venezuela's Civil Protection on Friday, marking the shift from the search for survivors to the recovery phase. Of the 77 teams that came from 31 countries, 25 remain operational, working alongside local brigades to recover bodies. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez bid farewell to and decorated rescuers from close to 30 countries.

Rubble Management

Managing the rubble is emerging as one of the main challenges. The government estimates 1.25 million tons of debris in the town of Caraballeda alone, where 856 buildings were damaged and 190 collapsed. Excavators are piling debris in vacant lots and around buildings. Veronique Durroux, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), described the scale of destruction as 'staggering'.

Population Displacement

The disaster is also reshaping the population, with growing numbers of people moving to unaffected states. Many relatives remain beside collapsed buildings, awaiting the recovery of their loved ones. Mariana Hernández spent eleven days waiting for four of her relatives to be recovered from a twelve-story building in Playa Grande.