Acting President Delcy Rodríguez defended the Venezuelan government's response to twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela late Thursday, June 27, 2026.
The defense comes amid mounting criticism that the state reacted too slowly to the disaster, which caused widespread destruction and significant loss of life.
Rodríguez said the authorities did not wait to act and were actively supporting rescue efforts throughout the affected regions. "We did not wait," Rodríguez said.
Discrepancies exist regarding the scale of the tragedy. NBC News reported at least 2,595 people killed [1], while The New York Times reported more than 900 people killed [2]. The higher figure from NBC News reflects the evolving nature of the casualty count as search operations continue.
Government officials highlighted successful rescue missions to counter the narrative of inefficiency. One such operation resulted in the rescue of a security guard who had been trapped for eight days [1]. This event served as a focal point for the administration's argument that their persistence in the field was effective.
Critics continue to argue that the initial mobilization of resources was delayed, hindering the ability to save more victims in the immediate aftermath of the tremors. Rodríguez said these claims were rejected, maintaining that the government's presence in the north was immediate and sustained.
“"We did not wait."”
The disparity in death toll reporting and the tension over response times suggest a volatile information environment following the disaster. By emphasizing a single high-profile rescue after eight days, the Venezuelan government is attempting to shift the public narrative from systemic failure to individual success stories to maintain political stability.
