Venezuela: 150 Unidentified Victims Buried

The earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24 left a wound that has yet to close. More than 150 unidentified bodies were buried this past weekend in a cemetery in La Guaira. Authorities marked each grave with codes and photographic records, hoping that one day families will be able to recognize their loved ones.

The death toll has already exceeded 3,342 people, according to the latest official count. Another 16,740 were injured following the two earthquakes that struck the country, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. Caracas suffered the collapse of several buildings, while La Guaira was almost completely devastated.

Individual graves with identification codes

In the municipality of Catia La Mar, workers used backhoes to dig trenches in a remote area of La Esperanza cemetery. Eli Zavala, a local resident, told AFP that they began preparing the graves the day after the tragedy. Their objective was clear: to give each victim a dignified burial.

Each burial is numbered by plot and specific code. This system will allow family members to locate unidentified bodies in the future. The authorities also photographed each body before burial as part of the official record.

The rectangular plots of earth are marked off with white stones. At the foot of each cross lies a small bouquet of flowers and a plaque with the inscription “Special Identification.” The engraved date is the same on all: June 24, 2026, the day that changed the country.

Overwhelmed morgues and an improvised storage facility

The scale of the disaster quickly overwhelmed the capacity of morgues and hospitals. Faced with this situation, authorities set up an improvised storage facility in the silos at the La Guaira port. This space allowed for temporary storage of bodies while identification processes advanced.

In the midst of tragedy, Venezuela celebrated its Independence Day on July 5. The ceremony was held with the national flag at half-mast as a sign of mourning for the victims. President Delcy Rodríguez led the ceremony and ruled out any possibility of social unrest.

“There will be no social unrest; what we have here is profound social solidarity from our people,” Rodríguez stated. The president assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro earlier in the year in an operation led by the United States. However, numerous residents of the devastated area expressed their indignation over the official response.

Families continue searching through the rubble

In La Guaira, residents continue searching for bodies in the rubble. Conditions become more difficult each day, but many refuse to abandon the search. On Sunday, the population attended funeral masses in churches throughout the country.

Zuly, a mother searching for her 23-year-old son, shared her story with AFP. The young man worked at a bakery that was completely destroyed by the earthquake. “This is horrible, but I’m not leaving here because I know he’s there,” she said with a breaking voice.

The woman found her son’s motorcycle and helmet among the remains of the business. Since the day of the tragedy, she sleeps next to her daughter in a small plaza near the bakery. Her hope remains intact, even as time passes and the odds diminish.

“I found his motorcycle, I found his helmet, he’s there, God willing alive,” Zuly assured. “If not, at least find him, see him, one needs to give them eternal rest.” Her testimony reflects the drama experienced by dozens of Venezuelan families.

For Sunday night, candlelight vigils are expected at various points across the country. This symbolic gesture seeks to honor the memory of the thousands of victims left by the earthquakes. Meanwhile, the search for bodies continues.