Last week, two powerful back-to-back earthquakes tore through Venezuela, leaving a trail of widespread destruction, thousands of fatalities and a nation grappling with unthinkable loss. As search and recovery efforts continue, the Venezuelan diplomatic mission in neighboring Trinidad and Tobago has turned into a hub for solidarity and aid coordination, with diplomats from across the globe gathering to honor the victims and organize relief supplies for the disaster-stricken country.
Speaking at the Venezuelan Embassy on Victoria Avenue in Port of Spain on Monday, Alvaro Sanchez Cordero, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and dean of the local diplomatic corps, described the catastrophic scene that has shaken his homeland. “It’s very sad. Really heartbreaking. A lot of devastation. The tall buildings have crumpled. Then you have the aftershocks. It’s another challenge,” he said of the disaster.
Cordero was joined by his wife Monica Rey, alongside senior diplomats from China, the United States, Ghana and Spain, to sign an official condolence book opened to commemorate the lives lost in the tragedy. While Cordero confirmed none of his immediate family members were killed or injured in the quakes, he shared profound grief for those who lost their loved ones.
Rey put the scale of the disaster in stark perspective, comparing the impact of the tremors to the detonation of roughly 200,000 atomic bombs. She noted the event marked Venezuela’s worst seismic event since a major earthquake in 1812, the same year revolutionary leader Simon Bolivar vowed to press on with his independence campaign despite the disaster. She added that the global and local response to the tragedy has been a source of comfort for the Venezuelan community abroad.
As of current updates, the confirmed death toll from the June 24 earthquakes stands at 2,295, a number that continues to climb as recovery teams reach more affected areas. More than 11,000 people have been reported injured, and nearly 50,000 individuals remain unaccounted for, leaving thousands of families waiting for word on missing loved ones.
Cordero, a native of Caracas, had been planning a personal trip back to Venezuela with his wife and 15-year-old daughter the Sunday after the quakes hit, but immediately canceled the journey to coordinate relief efforts from his post in Port of Spain. He recalled the moment he learned the full scale of the destruction: after getting initial word of the quake, photos from his wife and footage from his 27-year-old adopted daughter Paulo, who is currently in Venezuela, revealed the full extent of the collapse. “The big buildings were falling. Everything was collapsing. I am scared,” Paulo told her father in the video. When Cordero saw the scale of damage and confirmed the epicenter was located on land rather than off the coast, amplifying the destruction, “My heart sank. Sheer destruction.”
For Cordero, the disaster comes as Venezuela already navigates intense political upheaval, a point he emphasized when he noted, “We were not expecting a doublet” of crisis. Though his own family is unharmed, many of his friends have lost loved ones, with dozens still missing, leaving him deeply shaken by the tragedy.
Venezuelan migrants residing in Trinidad and Tobago have also been overwhelmed by grief, Cordero explained, with many unable to contact family members back home, unable to locate missing relatives, or confirming that loved ones died in the collapse. The embassy has stepped in to support these migrants, assisting with registration for missing person reports and coordinating with local authorities to access any available support for affected communities. “I am happy for any assistance that the State is giving that would benefit the Venezuelans here,” Cordero said.
Instead of traveling to Venezuela, Cordero made the decision to “stay on the ground” in Port of Spain, where the lower wing of the embassy has been converted into a temporary collection depot for donated relief supplies. The government of Trinidad and Tobago has led coordinated relief efforts, with additional support coming from across the Caribbean, and from both private and public sector entities. Local concerned citizens have also turned out in droves to donate essential goods. As of Tuesday, a large shipment of supplies including bottled water from Blue Waters was scheduled to depart from the Port of Pt Lisas for Venezuela.
Cordero pushed back against widespread misinformation circulating about the disaster, countering claims that the Venezuelan government has failed to distribute food aid across affected areas by saying 97% of food aid is currently being distributed across the country. He also noted that false claims about the official death toll have been widely spread online and in some media outlets.
The condolence book at the Venezuelan Embassy will remain open to sign from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through July 9 for any members of the diplomatic community or public wishing to pay their respects.