As her 180-day mandate expires, Venezuela’s acting leader defends quake response
Summary
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez defended her government’s response to deadly twin earthquakes that hit La Guaira, causing over 2,295 deaths. She said rescue efforts are ongoing despite criticism about slow action and said international help has been deployed.Key Facts
- Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela’s La Guaira state on June 24, 2026.
- The government reports over 2,295 people died, while a digital database lists more than 38,000 missing.
- Acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s 180-day mandate as interim leader expired on June 26.
- Rodríguez waited over an hour after the earthquake before her first public statement and held her first press conference eight days after the disaster.
- She insists search and rescue work continues, citing the recent rescue of a man nearly eight days after the quake.
- Rodríguez blamed negative public opinion on what she called politically motivated propaganda.
- The government says it deployed 11 international field hospitals and health workers from 33 countries for aid.
- The United Nations Development Program estimates physical damage from the quakes at $6.7 billion, about 6% of Venezuela’s economy.
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