Rescue teams in Venezuela have fallen into an agonising silence as hopes fade for survivors believed to be trapped under debris following the collapse of a residential building in Caracas on Tuesday evening. The structure, a 12-storey apartment block in the working-class neighbourhood of La Vega, gave way at approximately 7:30 pm local time, crushing dozens of families inside.
Emergency services, including firefighters, civil defence units, and volunteer groups, have been working through the night. But as of dawn, only six survivors had been pulled from the rubble. Authorities fear that at least 30 individuals remain trapped, many of them children and elderly residents.
“We can hear nothing now. That is the worst sign,” said Captain Alberto Rivas, coordinating the rescue operation for the Caracas Fire Department. “In the early hours, there were sounds, faint cries. They have stopped. We are preparing for the worst.”
The building, known as Edificio San José, had been classified as high-risk following an inspection four years ago. Residents had complained of structural cracks and water leaks. However, no official evacuation order was ever issued. Critics say the disaster underscores chronic failures in urban planning and building regulation enforcement under the Maduro government.
“This is a tragedy born of neglect,” said Maria Fernanda Suarez, a civil engineer who previously filed a technical report on the building’s instability. “The authorities knew. They chose inaction.”
President Nicolás Maduro has declared three days of national mourning and vowed a full investigation. In a televised address, he promised compensation for families and reparations for survivors. “We will find those responsible. The people of Caracas deserve justice,” he said.
International offers of assistance have arrived. The United Nations, the Red Cross, and neighbouring Colombia have all pledged technical support and equipment. However, logistical bottlenecks and political tensions may delay their deployment.
For the families gathered at the cordon, the silence is unbearable. “My mother is in there. I can only wait,” said Luisana Perez, 24, clutching a photograph of her mother as rescue dogs scoured the debris.
The collapse is the deadliest structural failure in Venezuela in a decade, echoing the 2010 Paraguaná refinery disaster that killed 26. As rescuers continue their grim work, questions about accountability loom large over a nation already beset by economic collapse and political crisis.
