Venezuelans Denounce Delcy Rodríguez After 2 Quakes Expose Failed Response
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 7
Venezuelans Denounce Delcy Rodríguez After 2 Quakes Expose Failed Response
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 7
Summary
La Guaira residents are openly condemning Venezuela’s government and leader Delcy Rodríguez as rescue work gives way to recovery after the twin earthquakes.
Police and National Guard officers were shouted down by grieving citizens who accused them of standing by while civilians and international aid workers searched for survivors and bodies.
Some 700 families had lived in one public housing complex that collapsed into rubble, sharpening anger over what survivors describe as an inadequate official response.
The backlash has widened beyond Caracas, with Venezuelans also faulting the Trump administration for backing recent economic deals with Venezuela and not challenging the government’s disaster management.
Fear of imprisonment, torture and exile—long a brake on dissent—is giving way to frustration, exposing a rare public rupture in a tightly repressed society.
An earthquake shattered their silence. Can Venezuelans’ newfound defiance survive the state's repressive power?
Is American aid rebuilding Venezuela or cementing a new authoritarian era under U.S. influence?
Aftershocks of Crisis: The 2026 Venezuelan Earthquakes, Political Turmoil, and the Fight for Humanitarian Relief
Overview
On June 24, 2026, Venezuela was hit by its worst earthquakes in nearly sixty years, causing widespread devastation and plunging the country into a severe humanitarian crisis. The immediate aftermath saw hundreds dead, thousands injured, and many trapped under rubble, while collapsed healthcare facilities made rescue and medical care extremely difficult. The disaster exposed deep weaknesses in Venezuela’s infrastructure and social systems, making recovery even harder. Despite these challenges, the government accepted broad international aid, but ongoing political tensions and years of underinvestment have complicated relief efforts, highlighting the urgent need for sustained humanitarian support and long-term rebuilding.