Governor José Alejandro Terán said Tuesday that 231 bodies of earthquake victims in the state of La Guaira remain unclaimed by their families [1].
The announcement highlights the lingering humanitarian crisis and the difficulty of family reunification years after the disaster. The unclaimed remains represent a small fraction of the total recovery effort in northern Venezuela, where the epicentre of the disaster was located.
Terán said the state has recovered approximately 2,400 bodies [2]. These individuals were identified using forensic technology and high-generation equipment [2]. The recovery process follows the double earthquake that struck the region on June 24, 2024 [3].
"Hay 231 cuerpos sin reclamar de las víctimas del sismo," Terán said [1].
Officials said that the remaining bodies will be transferred to other facilities after the identification process is finalized. The use of advanced forensic tools was necessary to process the high volume of casualties resulting from the seismic activity [2].
"Hemos recuperado unos 2.400 cuerpos que han sido identificados con la más alta tecnología forense y equipos de última generación," Terán said [2].
The state of La Guaira continues to manage the aftermath of the 2024 events. The process of identifying and returning remains to families remains a primary focus for local authorities as they seek to provide closure to the affected communities.
“231 bodies of earthquake victims in the state of La Guaira remain unclaimed by their families.”
The persistence of unclaimed remains two years after the disaster suggests significant disruptions in family networks and potential gaps in communication between the state and displaced populations. While the high recovery and identification rate of 2,400 bodies indicates a robust forensic response, the remaining unclaimed victims underscore the long-term social displacement caused by the 2024 earthquakes.
