One week after a devastating pair of earthquakes struck Venezuela's coast, families in La Guaira are still sifting through the rubble of collapsed buildings, desperately searching for missing loved ones and clinging to hope.

The twin quakes — a 7.2 magnitude tremor followed just 39 seconds later by a 7.5 magnitude mainshock — struck on June 24, leaving a trail of destruction across Venezuela, with La Guaira and the capital Caracas among the hardest hit.

At least 1,943 people have been killed and more than 10,500 injured. The United Nations has warned that up to 6.8 million people may be affected.

Fernando Rodriguez is one of many still searching. Clutching a cellphone showing a photo of his missing 19-year-old niece, he described the anguish of not knowing her fate.

"I feel terrible. I have a 19-year-old niece down there," he said. "We know she was here because she was on the phone with her mom, and we haven't heard from her since. Access is difficult, but we have to keep fighting because we have to find her."

Scenes of devastation are seen across the city: collapsed and damaged buildings, streets littered with scattered clothes and shoes, and displaced residents camping on sidewalks after being forced from their homes.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR A RELATIVE AMONG THE RUBBLE OF COLLAPSED BUILDING / PEOPLE CAMPING IN STREET / COLLAPSED BUILDINGS / SOUNDBITES FROM RELATIVES AND QUAKE SURVIVORS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA (JULY 1, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PERSON WALKING TO COLLAPSED BUILDING

2. COLLAPSED BUILDING

3. VARIOUS OF PERSON AT SITE OF COLLAPSED BUILDING

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR A RELATIVE AMONG THE RUBBLE OF COLLAPSED BUILDING

5. CELLPHONE SCREEN SHOWING A PHOTO OF MISSING PERSON AFTER THE QUAKE

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT LOOKING FOR A MISSING RELATIVE AFTER THE QUAKE, FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"I feel terrible. I have a 19-year-old niece down there. We know she was here because she was on the phone with her mom, and we haven’t heard from her since. We know they’re in the part of the building that may be most severely damaged, because that’s where the building collapsed during the earthquake. Access is difficult, but we have to keep fighting because we have to find her."

7. VARIOUS OF BUILDING COLLAPSE

8. VARIOUS OF PERSON SHOWING PHOTO ALBUM FOUND IN THE RUBBLE

9. PERSON WALKING AND SEA IN THE BACKGROUND

10. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CAMPING ON THE STREET

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) QUAKE SURVIVOR, ANGELIMA SEQUERA, SAYING:

"Even though we’ve done a lot, I feel like there’s still more to be done. There are many things left to do, and this phase will take quite a few days. Here we are. I ask the people who are outside our country to remain united, because the people save the people. We will save ourselves through our own efforts. So, please stand in solidarity and offer whatever support you can. It’s difficult to rebuild the city of La Guaira because this situation is going to last a long time, and our friends and brothers and sisters in La Guaira are going to need a lot—a lot—of support for a long time."

12. VARIOUS OF COLLAPSED BUILDING

13. PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET

14. PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET AND CLOTHES AND SHOES SCATTERED ON GROUND

15. CLOTHES AND SHOES SCATTERED ON GROUND

16. QUAKE SURVIVOR JOSE FERNANDEZ STANDING NEAR A TENT

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) QUAKE SURVIVOR, JOSE FERNANDEZ, SAYING:

"A week goes by in a flash, but in reality, one day feels like three or four because of all the work that everyone here is doing. Both local and international humanitarian aid has been truly remarkable. I think there are people who, even though they want to provide humanitarian aid, have stayed behind because the area has been so badly affected."

18. COLLAPSED BUILDING

19. VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDING

20. COLLAPSED BUILDING