The first week was marked by collective mourning, with absolutely no one leaving their homes except for markets and pharmacies. Many people mobilized to the hardest hit areas to help in any way they could. The outpouring of aid from civilians was so overwhelming that the government closed the border to La Guaira and began requiring safe passage for entry, placing every possible obstacle in the way of assistance. It was a complete disaster and utter chaos, with people who had good intentions but zero knowledge of organization and logistics, and an absent government whose only aim was to further complicate the situation.

This tragedy brought out the best and worst in everyone. Many have given what little they have to help, from money and medicine to clothing, and others have taken advantage of the good faith of others to steal under the guise of receiving donations. Personally, I prefer to help an affected person or family directly rather than give supplies or money without knowing if they will actually follow through on their promises. The aid has been massive, both inside and outside of Venezuela. I feel deep disgust for those who have stolen the donated money.

There has been a lot of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and scammers. Aid has decreased; fewer people are donating, and many people have left the disaster zone, as the roads are no longer blocked or closed.

These are the official figures so far, but we know that in a catastrophe the real numbers are never published:

• Deaths: 4,734 people have been reported dead following the ongoing debris removal.
• Rescued: Emergency crews have rescued 6,462 people alive.
• Injured: The official number of injured remains stable at 16,740.
• Homeless: A total of 17,907 people have lost their homes due to structural damage.

The worst affected area is worse than it appears or can be described. The putrid smell of thousands of dead bodies, the countless flies and maggots, the garbage pollution, the corpses dumped anywhere, some covered with bags or sheets, others exposed. The scenes of hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble, after having been such beautiful places, the muffled cries of those who lost everything. There are no words to describe it.

Listening to the stories of those who survived is horrifying; you have to be inhuman not to feel any pain from their words. There's a collective sense of guilt among those of us who are doing well; it's as if feeling good is disrespectful to others. It's a complicated feeling feeling grateful but also guilty at the same time.

They created pages to register missing persons or to register people who have been found.
https://venezuelareporta.org/en

41,295 missing / 33,139 in hospitals, shelters, or already found

This is a summary of the military's involvement:
Rifles and no tools. They approach, take photos, and leave. They sit sheltered in the shade, threatening and blackmailing those who approach with donations. They are the worst parasites.

Australian journalist Kaming Gock, correspondent for ABC News Australia, publicly denounced being the victim of harassment, intimidation and censorship by state security forces in Caracas, Venezuela.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/topic/venezuela

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-06/venezuela-earthquake-recovery-hindered-by-government-suspicion/106880614

We owe a debt of gratitude to all the people who have been helping in the landslide zones, risking their lives, venturing into crevices and unstable terrain, enduring hunger, thirst, sleepless nights, and the sun all day long in places where the temperature ranges from 28°C to 30°C. They have suffered heatstroke, broken hands, and some have even lost fingernails and other injuries. These are people who, without any family or acquaintances, have been there, dedicating their lives to helping others without asking for anything in return. From my perspective, they are true angels on earth.

My deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones, and may the thousands of lives lost rest in peace. There are no words that can offer comfort.