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Quakes, missing, and politics
Twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela about a week ago killed almost 3,000 people, while international and local rescue workers continued sifting through debris to find 40,000 missing people.
“CARACAS—Twin earthquakes opened the earth beneath Venezuela a week ago, killing almost 3,000 people”
The interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez faced heavy criticism for its slow response and lack of coordination, and the White House refused to back María Corina Machado’s attempt to return after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
In Caracas, John Barrett, the U.S. chargé d’affaires, publicly reiterated that plans for Venezuela remain largely “intact,” even as the U.S. moved to ease some sanctions and provided sizable humanitarian assistance.
The political fallout sharpened around the earthquakes’ timing, with the interim government led by Rodríguez and Machado’s efforts to return colliding with U.S. policy and relief efforts.
Before the June 24 earthquakes, a survey by Meganálisis found 71.2% of respondents believed Trump cares more about the oil business than about their freedom, while Rodríguez garnered 93% disapproval.
Machado blocked, U.S. anger
Axios reported that Trump administration officials blasted Machado’s efforts as “political opportunism and it’s grotesque,” saying her attempts to return have “saddled the State Department with "extra needless drama."”
The same Axios account said a senior administration official argued, “She wants a photo op of her passing out our aid,” while another official said, “This is about her interests.”
Machado, speaking in a video address to Venezuelans on social media, said Monday, “I want to return to Venezuela to accompany you,” and she added that “The regime wants to block my return to Venezuela.”
Le Figaro said the government closed “the commercial airspace of Venezuela to block my entry,” and it described the Maiquetía International Airport serving Caracas as closed due to damage but partially reopened for humanitarian flights.
The dispute played out alongside the earthquake toll, with Le Temps citing a death toll reaching 1,450 people and the United Nations estimating missing at around 50,000 as searches continued.
Relief, reconstruction, and uncertainty
Le Temps described rescue teams searching for last survivors after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, saying 774 buildings were damaged on Wednesday and 189 suffered a total collapse.
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It also quoted interim president Delcy Rodríguez extending schools’ closures for another week while saying, “Search and rescue operations continue,” and it reported that American and French rescue teams rescued a man and his teenage son from rubble in Caraballeda north of Caracas.
The stakes broadened beyond immediate rescue as Le Temps said the damage is estimated at nearly seven billion dollars, about 6% of the country’s GDP, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In parallel, the political fight over who should lead reconstruction intensified, with Maria Corina Machado telling reporters from Panama that “My presence stabilises the situation,” and that “The country needs figures it can trust.”
Zonebourse Suisse added that Machado said she is “ready to do whatever it takes” to return to Venezuela to participate in reconstruction efforts, while also accusing the Venezuelan government of blocking her attempt to return.
