Lack of resources and patchy telecoms have driven many Venezuelans to despair. In this context, outlets’ social networks, including Euronews, have become key platforms for appeals for help.
Some say they are still trapped and begging to be rescued. Others are searching for loved ones from whom they have had no news since the tremors. But they all have one thing in common: more than 24 hours after the seismic doublet that shook Venezuela on Wednesday night, they are turning to the media and social networks in search of some relief from their pain.
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On the Euronews Spanish-language TikTok channel, many users joined a live broadcast of the rescue operations to ask for help or draw attention to the many life-or-death situations unfolding across the country — after two earthquakes, of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, plunged much of Venezuela into chaos.
"🆘 Copy! Help, we are trapped on the 7th floor of Res. Caribe Mar, with two children and a five-month-old baby," read one of the most-shared messages in the chat, initially posted by user A.G🍒👸🏾. Before long, another user named Karina replied with a hopeful update: "@A.G🍒👸🏾 they have already been rescued."
"La Guaira, Los Cocos beach, oop27 tower A. There are lots of children," warned user Aillon. Yadira, meanwhile, pleaded: "Help for Maxiori and her family in Res. Bahía de Mar, La Guaira. She is from Charallave" — referring to the capital of Cristóbal Rojas municipality in Miranda state. "Please help! Hotel Catimar, Puerto Viejo in Catia La Mar. People need to be rescued," wrote Eliobana Guerrero.
The latest official figures record 589 dead and 2,980 injured. Hundreds more remain missing. It is little wonder, then, that many people are using the Euronews live chat to try to locate loved ones — or to offer help to those involved in the search effort.
"I have some lists of people; whoever wants them, write to me privately and I'll send them," said user Fabi🖤. "My loves, Sabrina Melisa López Silva, in La Guaira - does anyone know anything about her?" asked Flaquitaaaaaaa. "Help me find Julián Melian Amador 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨", begged a user who identified herself only with an emoji: 🦋.
Alongside the pleas for help and appeals to locate the missing, another recurring theme is the well-documented shortage of resources facing the country's emergency services - a gap that has prompted many ordinary citizens to join the rescue effort themselves.
"Women are helping at the collection centres," noted Reimary in a chat that at times drew more than a thousand users simultaneously. "Where are the rescuers?" demanded ceciliagomez599.
Some users directed their frustration at the government of Delcy Rodríguez, who succeeded President Nicolás Maduro after he was seized by the United States in January, holding it responsible for the scale of a disaster that has since prompted international humanitarian mobilisation.
"If the Venezuelan government had the machinery and all the tools, there wouldn't be so many dead," wrote María a Gocha Orozco. Odreman, meanwhile, chose a more conciliatory note: "Lord Jesus Christ, give them strength and guide their hands with your power so that they can rescue everyone."