Military personnel work atop a collapsed building in Caraballeda, in Venezuela's La Guaira state, on July 12, following twin earthquakes that struck the region. | AFP-JIJI
REUTERS
Jul 19, 2026
Delayed orders from senior military commanders, a lack of basic equipment and overall confusion were among the issues that hindered the deployment of Venezuelan troops in the crucial first days after two devastating earthquakes struck the country’s coast last month, eight sources familiar with the response said, amid public outrage over the government’s response to the disaster.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes killed about 5,000 people, according to the government, though experts including the United States Geological Survey have predicted a likelihood of a final death toll of nearly double that figure. The disaster was especially devastating in La Guaira state, home to the country’s main airport, a major port and hundreds of high-rise residential buildings that collapsed either fully or partially.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who is backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has defended the government’s response amid criticism that military personnel and other officials arrived late and have done little to help victims of the quake, including people who were trapped in the rubble.
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