The earthquakes in Venezuela are the first major test for President Delcy Rodriguez Stories About Earthquakes

Caracas, Venezuela – On the side of a busy road, waiting for a bus to Caracas, Mairet Perez is looking at her phone, pointing out her colleagues, friends and family from her hometown of La Guaira.

“He’s gone,” he says firmly, biting his lip, before moving on to some pictures showing piles of broken concrete.

Under the slabs are some of their bodies, he explains. Many people are missing – or dead.

The death toll follows two earthquakes those who arrived in Venezuela on Wednesday evening are approaching 1,500, while about 50,000 people have registered as missing on the official website.

On the long journey from the Colombian border, loaded with weapons for victims, Perez receives a phone call – devastating news. The father of his daughter, his wife and their nine-year-old son have been found. They didn’t make it.

“Everyone in La Guaira is hunting and digging people by hand,” says Perez. “It’s the government? What are they going to do? Nothing!”

He also said that there are areas where the government has not reached.

While the aftermath of the earthquake in Venezuela was filled with fear and despair, frustration and anger are mounting over the government’s response.

For former President Delcy Rodriguez, the tragedy is the biggest challenge of her presidency so far. As the threat mounts and rescue operations continue, he faces increasing pressure to ensure his government can respond effectively.

A few hours after the earthquakes occurred, Rodriguez called the state of emergency, expressed his condolences to the people who lost their loved ones, and asked for help from the world.

But what followed was what many observers described as a short-lived and inconsistent response.

“The government’s response has been anything from non-existent to even inadequate,” said Phil Gunson, a researcher and Venezuela expert at the International Crisis Group, a non-profit think tank.

He explained that, in the last ten years, Venezuela’s economic problems – due to poor management, corruption and sanctions – have seriously weakened the country’s emergency systems, along with the government’s health, water and electricity services.

“Now they don’t have the budget, the staff, the equipment, the leadership and the plan,” Gunson said.

Aid and rescue groups around the world have filled the gap. More than 20 teams have now arrived, including from El Salvador, Spain, Qatar and the United States.

But Mr. Gunson said it is not enough to give Rodriguez’s government legitimacy in a time of crisis.

“Despite US support, the government cannot show success in dealing with this crisis,” he said.