Venezuelan Anger Boils Over as Slow Earthquake Response Sparks Fury Against Government

Public anger in Venezuela continues to boil over as the government is perceived to be slow in handling the aftermath of earthquakes that killed thousands. The peak of this fury was seen when a grieving mother vented her emotions at Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of former President Nicolas Maduro, during his visit to the affected area in Catia La Mar. “I didn’t lose a kitchen! I lost a daughter!” Damely Yaneth Díaz shouted at Maduro Guerra. He later told Norwegian television TV2 that he understood her pain, stating, “Yes, I understand and I support her. I cannot imagine the pain she is feeling.”

The earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June destroyed dozens of buildings in La Guaira state and caused extensive damage in Caracas. The government has recorded 4,490 fatalities, with the death toll expected to rise as search operations continue. Many families reported having to dig through the rubble with their bare hands because official help arrived too late.

Delcy Rodríguez, the US-backed interim president, denied accusations that the government failed in its disaster response. She dismissed the criticism as propaganda and insisted that government officials and the military had been working tirelessly to assist victims. Rodríguez also argued that the slow response was partly because many senior officials in La Guaira were themselves among the casualties.

When questioned about the alleged poor quality of government housing projects that collapsed, Maduro Guerra responded, “I don’t know, I’m not an architect. I’m an economist.” Amid the grief, public anger was also fuelled by a statement from Rodríguez, who warned that critics of the government and military would be “buried.” The remark drew widespread condemnation as it was made while many families were still searching for the bodies of their relatives trapped under the debris.

Several analysts believe the public fury could potentially trigger social upheaval and complicate Venezuela’s political situation. The disaster has magnified discontent with the US-backed government following Washington’s military intervention last January, which led to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. The sentiment was summarised by Francisco González, a worker assisting with evacuations at the OPPE 25 housing complex, who compared the current response to disaster management under the late Hugo Chávez. “The first person to come here was Chávez. He had his flaws, but he loved his people. Not like the scoundrels we have now. I think God is punishing the politicians,” he said.