Venezuela advances in debris removal after devastating earthquakes
Two months after the earthquakes that shook northern Venezuela on June 24, authorities have reported significant progress in cleanup efforts. According to acting president Delcy Rodríguez, 28% of the debris accumulated in the most affected areas has been removed, which is equivalent to a total of 600,790 tons of material removed.
The operation, named “Dignified and Safe Clearance,” is being carried out under strict environmental protection protocols. Local teams are collaborating in these tasks alongside international technicians and United Nations specialists, seeking to ensure safety in the impacted areas.
The earthquake aggravated and made more urgent a task in which we were already engaged. We are clear on the path to move forward and rehabilitate the living conditions of the affected families.
Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela
Reconstruction and care for those affected
The magnitude of the tragedy, which left a tragic toll of at least 6,509 deaths, forced more than 25,000 citizens to be relocated to comprehensive camps. To date, the Government has completed the delivery of 335 new homes and has achieved the recovery of 1,001 houses, benefiting more than 4,600 people in total. The official commitment is to deliver more than 4,000 additional homes before the end of the current year.
Experts estimate that total removal efforts could last for up to a year. Meanwhile, the government’s focus is on improving basic services, including electricity, water, health, and roads, areas that were already facing challenges prior to the catastrophe.
International cooperation and economic challenges
To accelerate the cleanup process, the country recently received 20 teleoperated heavy machines from the United States, delivered through the company TFI Solutions. This technology is key to operating in hard-to-reach areas quickly and safely.
However, the economic landscape remains complex. The World Bank has estimated direct physical damages at $19.6 billion, warning that the speed of reconstruction will be decisive for the country’s economic stability over the next decade.
