Venezuelans are working against the clock to rescue loved ones trapped beneath collapsed buildings after a pair of powerful earthquakes rocked the country, killing more than 900 people and injuring thousands more. Many fear the death toll will continue to rise.
In Boston, word traveled quickly to Venezuelan native Carolina Garcia, owner of Carolicious Gourmet, a Venezuelan restaurant with locations in Somerville, Boston and Cambridge.
“They say it was terrifying,” she said after speaking with family. “They are now without water. Some parts are without electricity. But they are repairing the minor things that happened with the earthquake, like broken glasses or pipes.”
On Wednesday, the region of La Guaira in northern Venezuela was hit by 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that were one minute apart. The quakes caused extensive damage across a wide area, including the capital Caracas, where numerous buildings collapsed and thousands of residents fled their homes.
Garcia has a brother that lives in Los Naranjos. She said he and others are safe, but they are sad and worried about the extent of the damage. Garcia said they are also concerned about aftershocks.
“They are very, very scared about what could happen because people don’t want to go to sleep in their homes,” she said, “People stay in their cars sleeping all night long waiting.”
The Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts is asking the broader Latino community to help with humanitarian aid efforts.
“When tragedy strikes, compassion cannot wait. Venezuela needs more than our prayers, it needs our action. Together, we can bring hope where there is despair and remind every family they are not alone,” said Katiuska Valiente, a member of the association and the owner of Peka Restaurant in Brighton.
“From Massachusetts, we are coming together to coordinate a more effective relief effort and provide meaningful support to those affected. Every act of kindness brings hope. Every contribution makes a difference. Together, we are stronger,” she said.
The group, along with Casa Venezuela New England, a network of independent community-based nonprofit organizations across the country, are collaborating “to provide guidance and support for families seeking information about relatives in the affected area by facilitating communication and connecting them with organizations and authorities working on the ground.”
Over 8,000 Venezuelans live in Massachusetts according to the data analytics firm Neilsberg.
Cristina Aguilera, the executive director of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, is originally from Venezuela. She told GBH News she is saddened by the devastation of the earthquakes.
“Our hearts ache for Venezuela and for all those impacted by the two earthquakes that struck my beloved country. This tragedy has profoundly affected communities already burdened by political and economic instability,” she said.
Aguilera has family in Caracas and Valencia. She said they quickly heard they were safe, but she has friends who lost relatives and had their homes destroyed.
“They are now grieving the loss of loved ones, caring for the injured, and working tirelessly to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble of cities and towns,” she added, describing the next hours as critical for still reaching anyone alive.
Governor Maura Healey offered her support during a news conference Thursday.
“I think about the catastrophic earthquake in Venezuela and our hearts go out to our Venezuelan community. Those, right now, who are digging out of the rubble , who are praying to find their loved ones and survivors,” Healey said.
Garcia echoed concerns about Venezuela’s ability to recover from the disaster with the government still in disarray following the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this year.
“Venezuela needs help a lot,” she said. “It’s been a country under a dictatorship for 27 years. And the hospitals and the resources. And nothing is working. And that’s the thing. It’s going to be hard to manage this type of disaster.” she said.
