Venezuelan public anger grows over earthquake response and calls for accountability

Public frustration is rising in Venezuela after twin earthquakes on June 24 killed almost 4,500 people and left many more injured. In a semi-destroyed social-housing complex named after Hugo Chávez, a grieving mother shouted at congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of former president Nicolás Maduro, demanding that officials be arrested for what she called reckless handling of the disaster.

"The lot of you should be arrested," the woman, Damely Yaneth Díaz, said, adding that the authorities must be held accountable.

The incident, captured by Norwegian broadcaster TV2, was cheered by bystanders and quickly spread on social media, reflecting broader anger over what many see as the government's ineffective response. The official death toll was raised to 4,490 on Sunday, but officials expect the number to climb as rescue teams continue to recover bodies.

Acting president Delcy Rodríguez dismissed criticism as a media campaign, describing it as “propaganda laboratories,” and claimed the armed forces were working “tirelessly” to aid victims. She has avoided direct contact with families of the dead, opting instead for a visit to a military base where she warned that “wretched” critics would be buried.

Maduro Guerra, who is not an architect, said he could not confirm whether government-built housing had been constructed properly, noting that private developments had also collapsed. He expressed sympathy for the grieving mother, stating, “Yes, I understand and I support her. I can’t imagine the pain she feels.”

The disaster has intensified long-standing opposition to the Maduro administration, which critics say has led the country into economic and humanitarian crisis. The United States, which intervened militarily in January, has continued to support Rodríguez’s government, deploying nearly 1,000 troops to assist with relief efforts.

Francisco González, a removal worker in the damaged OPPE 25 housing project, compared the current response unfavorably with the 1999 landslides, saying the late Hugo Chávez had personally helped victims then. He added that many now feel “God is punishing the politicians.”