La Peñita, Venezuela — Three months on since twin earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela, some rural communities are still waiting for government help.
On June 24, the northern state of La Guaira was leveled by 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck seconds apart. Experts estimated that as many as 80% of buildings in the state were damaged or destroyed, many along the coastal suburbs of Catia la Mar, Maiquetía and the state capital, La Guaira.
In urban areas it took days for the authorities to begin rescue efforts, with neighbors and family members banning together to rescue loved ones.
But up in the mountains of the Carayaca parish in La Guaira state, residents in the small village of La Peñita — about a two hour’s drive from the capital Caracas — say no government officials have come to assess the damage, despite dozens of homes collapsing.
“You are the first ones to come here to visit,” Jacky Guerrero, a local farmer, told Latin America Reports on a visit in September to the town. “Just imagine—yes, you’re the first ones to come in. We need more on-the-ground action, less bureaucracy.”
Life in La Peñita has never been easy. Rugged terrain and lack of transportation options make it difficult to access. Small mud-and-wattle homes with asbestos roofs dot the green landscape; electricity blackouts are frequent and gas for stoves is delivered once a month.
Many in the community said they felt neglected by the government, even before the quakes.
Rosa Rodríguez lives with eight other adults and seven children in her two bedroom home in La Peñita.
Cracks caused by the earthquake streak across her house. The worst damage, however, was to her roof, which still leaks every time it rains.
“I’d like them to give me some corrugated metal sheeting for my house… because our beds get wet, everything gets wet,” Rodríguez said.
Guerrero’s home, too, sustained serious cracks. Although she understands the risks of living inside the structure, she said she doesn’t see herself going to a disaster shelter, as living conditions inside the camps can also be extremely difficult.
In addition to living conditions, the earthquake’s impact on the local economy is also evident.
Guerrero said that banana crop sales to wholesalers — who pay about US $2.50 for a 30-kilo basket of the fruit — are down and there is a lot of competition for sales.
“We work hard, but the income we get from what we grow and sell isn’t enough to make ends meet,” Guerrero lamented. “If you have a car and go to Caracas to sell at a good price, you could cover your expenses and needs. Here, you work hard and sell, but the one who makes a little more is the reseller.”
Some families have been forced to sell their valuables, such as propane tanks, to cover food expenses, according to Guerrero.
She said government officials have not visited La Peñita and civil society organizations have been the only groups to arrive with aid.
“There hasn’t been a census or any outreach,” Mario, Rodríguez’s husband, said.
The experience has left some La Peñita residents bitter toward politicians.
“They come when there are elections, but I’m not going anywhere. What’s the point? So they can come and make promises they never keep,” said Guerrero.
For now, the little help La Peñita has received from civil society organizations, including medical assistance and supplies, isn’t enough to meet demand. The town’s one clinic, while structurally sound, lacks the resources to treat the town’s residents.
Featured image: A house in La Peñita destroyed in the June 24, 2026 earthquakes.
Image credit: Julio Blanca for Latin America Reports
Facts Only
* June 24th: Earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern La Guaira.
* Experts estimated 80% of buildings in the state were damaged or destroyed.
* Rescue efforts in urban areas took days to commence.
* Residents in La Peñita, a village in Carayaca parish, await government assessment of damage.
* Residents report no government officials have assessed damage in La Peñita.
* La Peñita residents experience rugged terrain and limited transportation options.
* Homes in the area are described as small mud-and-wattle structures with asbestos roofs.
* Electricity blackouts are frequent, and gas delivery is monthly.
* Families sold valuables, such as propane tanks, for food expenses.
* Civil society organizations arrived with aid, but supplies were insufficient to meet demand.
Executive Summary
Following earthquakes in northern Venezuela, some rural communities remain without government assistance three months later. In the La Guaira state, 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck on June 24th, causing significant damage, with experts estimating up to 80% of buildings in the state were damaged or destroyed. While urban areas experienced days before rescue efforts began, residents in mountain communities like La Peñita, located about two hours from Caracas, reported no government officials have assessed the damage to their homes despite numerous collapses.
Residents in La Peñita face ongoing hardship due to difficult terrain and limited transportation, with homes often constructed of mud and wattle and possessing asbestos roofs. Access to utilities is inconsistent, including frequent electricity blackouts and monthly gas deliveries. Many community members expressed a feeling of neglect by the government prior to the seismic events. Families have faced economic strain, with some forced to sell assets like propane tanks for food, and local agricultural income has declined due to market competition. Aid from civil society organizations has been the only support received, though current provisions are insufficient to meet demand.
Full Take
The narrative reveals a critical disconnect between official response mechanisms and the lived reality of remote populations following a disaster. The emphasis on the lack of government presence in La Peñita highlights a pattern where formal structures appear contingent on political cycles rather than immediate humanitarian need. This pattern suggests that state-level governance, even when engaging with disaster management, prioritizes visibility over localized action, effectively deferring responsibility to non-state actors.
The economic distress articulated by local farmers points toward a systemic failure in infrastructure and support that exacerbates pre-existing vulnerabilities. When communities face severe physical loss coupled with economic stagnation—evidenced by declining crop sales and necessity-driven asset liquidation—the resultant bitterness toward political entities is an understandable response to perceived abandonment. The contrast between the devastation witnessed in coastal areas versus the silence experienced in mountain villages underscores how disaster impact is filtered through existing socio-economic stratification.
The pattern observed suggests that resilience is not solely determined by physical recovery but by the integrity of social contracts and accessibility of aid. When local voices are marginalized, the efficacy of external assistance diminishes, meaning that a crucial element for genuine post-disaster recovery is the establishment of accessible, responsive, and accountable local feedback loops, rather than top-down assessment procedures. What infrastructure is in place to ensure that assessments move beyond centralized bureaucracy to directly address localized needs? How can reliance on civil society, while necessary, be formalized into enduring governmental structures to prevent future instances of neglect during crises?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like investigative journalism, effectively synthesizing official event data with deeply personal, on-the-ground accounts to illustrate the gap between disaster response and local needs.