Venezuela earthquake survivor remembers lost friends after deadly La Guaira disaster

Saturday 11 July 2026 - 13:00

By: Sahili Aya

Venezuela earthquake survivor remembers lost friends after deadly La Guaira disaster

Seventeen-year-old Maria Alejandra Sanz survived one of Venezuela’s deadliest recent natural disasters, but her rescue came with the devastating realization that several of her closest friends had not made it out alive.

The young student spent 17 hours trapped beneath the remains of a collapsed apartment building after twin earthquakes struck the coastal state of La Guaira in northern Venezuela on June 24. While rescue teams searched through the debris, she fought to stay alive in darkness, unaware of the fate of members of her high school dance troupe.

The disaster claimed nearly 4,000 lives and left more than 16,000 people injured, according to preliminary figures cited by authorities.

A survivor’s ordeal beneath the rubble

Sanz, 17, was eventually rescued after being trapped under the destroyed building in the town of La Guaira, where she had spent much of her life. During the long hours before help arrived, she tried to endure the conditions around her while hoping rescuers would find her.

Her survival was followed by a painful discovery: several friends from her dance group had died in the collapse.

At a memorial service held in Caracas, Sanz paid tribute to one of her closest friends, remembering the young people she described as forever frozen in their youth.

A community mourning its young victims

The earthquake left deep scars across La Guaira, a coastal area located north of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. Families continue to mourn relatives and friends lost during the disaster, while rescue and recovery operations have highlighted the scale of the destruction.

For Sanz, the tragedy was particularly personal. Four members of her high school dance troupe were among those killed, transforming what had been a story of survival into one of grief and remembrance.

The memorial gatherings have become moments for families, classmates and neighbors to come together and honor those who died.

Rebuilding after a national tragedy

Beyond the immediate rescue efforts, Venezuelan authorities and local communities face the challenge of rebuilding damaged areas and supporting survivors coping with trauma and loss.

The earthquake has drawn attention to the vulnerability of densely populated areas and the importance of emergency preparedness in regions exposed to seismic activity.

As La Guaira begins the difficult process of recovery, stories like Sanz’s reflect both the human cost of the disaster and the resilience of those left behind.