Government Denies Social Unrest Amid Rising Earthquake Toll
During a national holiday military service, interim President Delcy Rodriguez attempted to project stability, dismissing rumors of growing public anger following the disaster. "There will be no social unrest here," Rodriguez declared, insisting that the crisis has instead fostered deep social solidarity across the country.
The political reality remains tense as the Ministry of Communication and Information confirmed that the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude twin earthquakes have claimed 3,342 lives, with thousands still missing. The seismic disaster, the deadliest to hit Venezuela in a century, has also injured 16,470 people and left more than 17,000 citizens homeless after flattening coastal infrastructure.
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Critics and opposition figures argue that decades of government mismanagement have crippled Venezuela's ability to coordinate an effective emergency response. Rodriguez pushed back against these allegations during her address, claiming that political adversaries are weaponizing the tragedy to stir 'hatred' and attack state institutions.
This disaster marks the first major test for Rodriguez, who assumed the interim presidency in January after the US military abducted former President Nicolas Maduro. While Washington continues to support Rodriguez's administration, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has criticized the status quo from abroad, using Independence Day to call for democratic change and a renewed strategy for the nation.