Quake Victims Feel the Sting of Poverty, Even in Death in Venezuela

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, July 25, 2026

In the wake of devastating earthquakes in northern Venezuela, many survivors—particularly poorer families—face severe difficulties affording burials and accessing heavy machinery to recover bodies amid widespread destruction. This economic disparity highlights deep social inequalities, complicating the grieving process and limiting traditional mourning practices for those most affected.

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela last month, many survivors and victims’ families are confronting not only grief but profound economic hardship, which has complicated efforts to recover and bury their dead.

The twin quakes flattened numerous buildings across the coastal state of La Guaira, leveling both luxury high-rises and public housing units. While the disaster’s destruction cut across social strata, the difficulties faced by poorer families in the recovery process have highlighted stark inequalities.

Among those affected is 16-year-old Michell Mendoza, who survived the collapse of her family’s public housing building in Caraballeda but lost her parents and older brother. When she and her relatives attempted to bury her mother in a local hillside cemetery, they were turned away due to their inability to afford a family gravesite. “I didn’t know even graveyards could be private,” said Alexandra Romero, 18, Michell’s sister-in-law. Without access to affordable burial plots nearby, the family was forced to cremate her mother—a practice historically uncommon and undesired by many Venezuelans.

The scarcity of heavy machinery further compounded recovery challenges. Excavators and cranes were in short supply, and while some private companies and donors provided equipment without charge, many families had to pay substantial sums to rent machinery to search through rubble for bodies. Paola Alessandra Peñaloza Gómez, 30, paid $650 per day for a private company to assist in finding her father in an upscale building, acknowledging the disparity faced by others without financial means. Conversely, Vladimir Peña, 29, desperately sought help to locate his wife, trapped under the debris of a public housing complex, but lacked resources to secure machinery.

Victor Calderón Castillo, who lost more than 20 relatives in a single apartment complex, captured the sentiment of many, stating, “If you don’t own anything, you are nobody. It’s always been like that.” For days, he was forced to halt his search for family members due to the absence of tools and inability to afford them, while heavy equipment worked nearby for wealthier residents.

Government authorities have offered free burial alternatives, including a mausoleum in Caracas, a mass grave, and a site on a mountain west of La Guaira, but these options are often located far from affected neighborhoods and difficult for many families—particularly those without transportation—to access. At local cemeteries with closer proximity, families faced expensive fees, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars per burial plot.

Amarilis Rada, 31, who lost her husband and two children, said the price to bury her dead was beyond her means. She cremated two of her children’s bodies and continued searching for her seven-year-old son, unable to afford a traditional wake or burial. “If I could have held a wake, I would have a place to visit him, a place to go for his birthday,” she lamented.

These struggles underscore the broader social inequalities in Venezuela, where economic hardship and scarcity of resources have intensified the tragedy for the poorest victims of the earthquake. Families are grappling not only with loss but with limited access to the means to mourn and honor their dead according to their customs.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.