Families Still Search for Missing Bodies a Month After Venezuela Earthquakes

Twin earthquakes that struck Costa de La Guaira on 24 June left thousands of apartment residents on the coast buried beneath collapsed buildings. Families are still combing rubble for loved ones, while official figures list over 5,300 confirmed deaths and speculate that up to 50,000 people could still be undiscovered.

BBC correspondent Will Grant arrived shortly after the shocks and returned a month later to find the same scenes: shattered homes, broken streets, and a relentless search for closure. The disaster has escalated in the crisis‑wounded region, with local authorities and aid organizations racing to locate bodies and provide forensic assistance.

The humanitarian response remains critical. Many relatives have taken on the role of community search teams, walking through the ruins with flashlights and machetes while search dogs help locate bodies that were previously buried. The devastating damage to infrastructure means rescue operations are complicated by limited access and continued after‑shock tremors.

Recovery hopes depend on coordinated disaster relief, collective care, and an international commitment to find the missing and support affected families. Chilean, Colombian, and Venezuelan governments, along with NGOs, are working on improving search‑and‑rescue training and establishing safe paths for workers.