Earthquake in Venezuela [AFP=Yonhap News]

As one traveled from the capital, Caracas, eastward toward the state of La Guaira, the damage from the earthquake became increasingly severe. Movement was difficult due to cracked roads. Along the way, there was a continuous procession of evacuees trying to leave the state with whatever few possessions they had managed to salvage. The road to La Guaira had already been closed.

Annette Paredes, a resident of La Guaira, sat beside the cloth-covered body of her 15-year-old grandson. She told the local newspaper El Nacional on the 26th (local time), "The Vargas tragedy was not even a quarter of this earthquake. This is much more horrific," adding, "Never before have so many buildings collapsed entirely. We don't even know how many people have died."

Earthquake in Venezuela [AFP=Yonhap News]

The "Vargas tragedy" mentioned by Paredes refers to the catastrophic flood that occurred in Vargas State in 1999. Vargas State is the former name of La Guaira State. During the administration of Nicolás Maduro in 2019, the state was renamed 'La Guaira' (Valley of the Wind) to signify the liquidation of colonial and vested interests, as it was argued that José María Vargas, the first civilian president of Venezuela, symbolized Spanish imperialism and the established power structure.

In 1999, it is estimated that about 50,000 people died in Vargas State when a year's worth of rain fell in just three days. Landslides and other disasters buried much of the residential and infrastructure located along the coast. The "Vargas tragedy" is recorded as the worst natural disaster of the 20th century, not only for Venezuela but for all of South America.

Rescue work with hammers [AP=Yonhap News]

According to various foreign media reports, La Guaira, struck by a disaster of similar scale for the first time in 27 years, now resembles a living hell. According to Venezuelan authorities, there have been 214 aftershocks since the two major earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7.0 occurred on the 24th.

Despite these dangers, residents of La Guaira, their families, and volunteers who rushed from Caracas are using their bare hands and any tools they can find to clear the rubble where missing persons are buried. El Nacional reported that the atmosphere at the scene is "deeply shocking and desperate."

Maria Jose Anriche, who joined the rescue efforts with bare hands and no equipment, said, "Like ants, we must all work together to lift this debris and save people. There is too much building infrastructure here in La Guaira." She added, "A few pairs of hands are simply not enough to lift all of this."

Venezuela [AFP=Yonhap News]

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello estimated that day that more than 100 buildings had collapsed in La Guaira and that over 70,000 residents had been affected. Despite the massive scale of the damage, rescue equipment is woefully insufficient, and neither military nor police forces are in sight. One resident vented their frustration, saying, "There is no help from the army, the police, or anyone. Nobody comes here. There isn't even anyone asking if our families or children are safe."

While some are helping with the rescue, saying, "Saving lives is our job," there have also been reports of looting taking advantage of the situation. According to the Mexican daily La Jornada, there have been reports of looting in shops and collapsed houses, spreading from grocery stores to appliance retailers.

Amid the sluggish rescue operations and security instability, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced that day that she would deploy the military to La Guaira. Accordingly, 11,500 security personnel, including the military, are scheduled to be deployed to the state sequentially starting today. Rescue workers and medical staff from El Salvador, Chile, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Mexico have also arrived at the scene and have begun preparations to start operations.

Mexican rescue team arrives in Venezuela [AFP=Yonhap News]

Acting President Rodríguez stated that the death toll has risen to 589 and the number of injured to 2,980, but the death toll is likely to rise sharply once the military and international rescue teams begin the full-scale clearing of building debris.

Entry into La Guaira from the outside is currently impossible. The highway connecting the capital to the La Guaira coastline has been closed. Only vehicles for rescue operations and supply transport are allowed through. According to local media, La Guaira, which boasted a quiet, serene atmosphere as one of Venezuela's major tourist destinations, has been completely devastated. Residential complexes, vacation apartments, and hotels have been turned into piles of dust and concrete.