The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, toured the parish of Macuto in the state of La Guaira, the region most devastated by the two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that shook the country on Wednesday.
However, its emergence has sparked harsh criticism for being accompanied by what many Venezuelans have described as political propaganda and state abandonment, while thousands of people remain trapped under the rubble nearly 48 hours after the earthquakes.
The visit, broadcasted on social media and covered by official media, aimed to oversee the search and rescue efforts and announce the arrival of international humanitarian aid, amidst a devastating scenario whose official toll to date is 589 dead and 2980 injured, according to the latest figures from the government.
From Macuto, Rodríguez stated that the government was standing by the people in the search and rescue of those who were trapped by the structures and buildings that collapsed due to the double earthquake, and that the goal is to recover as many people as possible alive.
The leader announced the arrival of international rescuers from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador -with 188 personnel dispatched by the Bukele government- Mexico, and Spain, whose Military Emergency Unit departed the day before for Venezuela.
The avalanche of criticism on social media
The video that Rodríguez posted on Instagram garnered over 77,000 views and 952 comments, most of which were critical of the government’s management.
"There was no shortage of money for luxury trucks, concerts, baseball stadiums, or political campaigns, but there was never any for hospitals, firefighters, paramedics, or emergencies," wrote a user.
Another internet user pointed out the absence of the military: “Where is the army? The same army that was deployed during the protests... be efficient at least once in your lives.”
The lack of basic equipment was also reported: “You are to blame for Civil Protection rescuing people with cell phone flashlights. You're not fooling anyone; people are out there rescuing their relatives on their own.”
Several comments questioned the timing of the public appearance:
"Are you really politicizing this? When what needs to be done, more than political marketing, is to act on the rubble that has people trapped there for over 24 hours."
In X, the reactions were equally strong.
"A completely useless and embarrassing media show"; "Where are they? Liars, people are alone, surely now planning to steal humanitarian aid again," pointed out two internet users amid the tide of reproaches.
A devastated area without basic services
The reality on the ground contrasts with the institutional tone of the regime.
The witness José Rolón contacted RTVE from his van -the only means available to connect- and described total destruction: “There is no electricity, no Internet, no water, there is absolutely no type of service.”
Rolón toured the area of Los Corales and reported that "that area has almost completely disappeared; the buildings are no longer there, it's as if there was an implosion or a controlled detonation, because not a single floor remains standing. There are people trying to loot the homes, individuals searching for their relatives."
In addition, there are at least eight collapsed or overwhelmed hospitals, including José María Vargas Hospital, and the Simón Bolívar International Airport, which remains closed due to severe damage to its infrastructure.
La Guaira -known until 2019 as Vargas state- is home to half a million people, most of whom are living in poverty according to the ENCOVI survey by the Andrés Bello Catholic University.
Rodríguez took over the presidency on January 5, 2026, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, and inherited a country with over a decade of deterioration in its healthcare and emergency infrastructure.
The United States Geological Survey estimated with a 42% probability that the final death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000 people, a figure that would make this tragedy the worst in modern Venezuelan history.
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