Venezuelan authorities began installing controlled explosives in the zona cero of La Guaira to accelerate debris removal and the search for victims [1].
This shift in strategy follows the departure of international rescue teams. The use of explosives marks a more aggressive phase of recovery in Vargas state, where the scale of destruction has hindered traditional search-and-rescue efforts.
The Ministry of Defense and the National Guard are overseeing the operations [1]. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense said the installation of explosives is a necessary measure to advance the removal of rubble and the search for victims [1].
This new phase began 37 days after the double earthquake that struck the region [1]. The disasters occurred on June 22, 2024 [2].
Security remains a primary concern for the government. A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior said access to La Guaira is heavily restricted for security reasons [2].
While military engineers lead the explosives phase, other unconventional groups have assisted in the recovery. Approximately 200 artisanal miners have helped search for victims in the absence of international aid [3].
The human toll remains high for those living in the disaster zone. Lohengry Fuentes, a resident of La Guaira, said they do not know how much longer they will have to live among the rubble [4]. This desperation was evident early in the crisis, with some families describing their conditions more than 100 hours after the initial shocks [5].
“The installation of explosives is a necessary measure to advance the removal of rubble and the search for victims.”
The transition to controlled explosives indicates that manual and mechanical recovery efforts reached a stalemate in La Guaira. By utilizing military engineering and artisanal mining labor, the Venezuelan government is attempting to clear the 'zona cero' more rapidly, though the heavy security restrictions and the time elapsed since the June 2024 earthquakes suggest a complex recovery process with diminishing hopes for finding survivors.
