Devastation in La Guaira After Earthquakes

Photographs by Adriana Loureiro Fernandez
July 2, 2026
Updated 12:30 p.m. ET

The aftermath of a significant catastrophe was evident in the port town of La Guaira. Recent earthquakes struck Venezuela, leaving behind massive destruction. The scene, viewed the morning after the quakes, revealed a vast heap of rubble where apartments once stood.

No, said a volunteer rescuer, This is just the first mountain. There is more.

The devastation was thorough, with flattened landscapes making it difficult to comprehend the full extent of the damage. Only with drone images that emerged days later did some clarity begin to form.

OPPE 26, a public housing project constructed during Hugo Chávez’s leadership, was particularly affected. The building housed many who relocated there following destructive mudslides in 1999. Now, La Guaira is thought to be among the areas with the most severe quake damage. The density of residents at OPPE 26 suggests that it may suffer the most casualties.

The atmosphere at the site was somber. Without substantial aid from external rescuers or heavy machinery, the only sounds came from residents using simple tools to uncover their loved ones from the debris. Bodies were retrieved and laid on the ground, often under blankets.

One resident, Oswaldo Tovar, aged 45, used a small hammer to make a hole large enough to find his wife and daughter. However, he could not extract them. As he sat with them, he shared their names: his wife, Ivonne Ladera, was 46, and his daughter was 8. When asked his daughter’s name, he was unable to respond.

Written by Eric Nagourney. Drone piloting by Andres Conde.