Relatives of Venezuelan deportees who died during twin earthquakes that struck the country are demanding a formal apology and moral compensation from Venezuela’s interim government. According to bereaved family members, 146 deported individuals were detained in La Guaira state just hours before the natural disaster hit on June 24, with authorities allegedly blocking exits and failing to provide evacuation plans.
Demands for Accountability and Apologies After La Guaira Quakes
Families affected by the disaster are organizing both domestic and international complaints against the state. Oswadelis Nunez, whose son Daniel Alejandro Nunez Ramirez died in the collapse, stated that her son lacked a criminal record in both the United States and Venezuela. “What were they doing carrying out an unlawful arrest?” she asked, according to on-the-ground reports. Nunez spent five days searching improvised morgues and hospitals across La Guaira and Caracas before locating her son’s body.
Luz Maris Melendez, another grieving parent whose detained son Angelo David Mejia Melendez died in the disaster, criticized the administration’s response. “The government failed in its duty of care. They must be held accountable,” Melendez said. Families are seeking answers regarding why the detainees were kept inside the building when the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck the coastal region.
Did you know? According to a social media post by the government, the detained group of deportees consisted of 120 men, 19 women, and seven children. The twin earthquakes caused at least 190 buildings to collapse across La Guaira state.
Criticism of Deportation Protocols and Missing Information
Beyond demands for an apology, families are pressing authorities for transparency regarding return and casualty metrics. Ms. Nunez criticized existing protocols for failing to provide clear information on the total number of individuals returned to Venezuela, the count of earthquake survivors, and verified death tolls from the detained group. Interim government figures put the overall earthquake death toll at 6,509, though officials have not disclosed how many people remain missing.
The disaster severely impacted infrastructure in Catia La Mar and surrounding areas of La Guaira state. While the interim government reports having provided 335 homes to displaced victims and pledged a total of 4,000 housing units by the end of the year, affected families maintain that accountability for the detained deportees must precede standard recovery metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the deportees detained in La Guaira state?
According to a social media post by the government, a group of 146 deported individuals—comprising 120 men, 19 women, and seven children—was detained upon return. Relatives allege the arrest was unlawful.
What caused the high structural damage in the region?
Twin earthquakes measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the coastal region on June 24, causing at least 190 buildings to collapse and resulting in an official death toll of 6,509 so far.
What are the families demanding from the interim government?
Families are demanding a formal apology, moral compensation, explanations regarding the detention and evacuation blocking, and improved protocols for deportation tracking.
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