Venezuelans hold vigil one month after earthquakes as families search for missing

One month after a series of tremors rattled Venezuela’s western states, families continue to comb through the rubble of collapsed structures in search of relatives still unaccounted for. The earthquakes, which struck on May 22 with magnitudes ranging from 5.5 to 6.2, devastated towns across the Andean region, leaving more than 200 people dead, dozens injured and an estimated 150 still missing, according to the National Civil Protection Agency.

Rescue teams from the military, the Red Cross and local volunteer groups have persisted in their efforts despite limited equipment and ongoing aftershocks that hinder safe access to the most heavily damaged sites. Authorities have opened temporary shelters for displaced residents and are conducting forensic examinations to identify victims, while families repeatedly return to the debris in hopes of finding closure. The sustained search underscores the long‑term humanitarian challenges that follow the seismic event and highlights the need for continued support as the affected communities work toward recovery.