Oriana Paez stepped out of her car before her shift at a cosmetics store in Deerfoot City when she received a text from her stepmom, asking about her mother. At first, she was intrigued by the concern, but after finding out, she began frantically calling her mother in Caracas — to no avail.
As news about a devastating earthquake near Caracas kept pouring in, she dialled all her relatives, but no one could offer any relief or news about her mother. Even while advising her clients on which shade of lipstick to try, she ached to hear her mom’s voice.
Hours of Fear and Uncertainty
Several hours later, her mother called. She said she was fine, although the interior of her apartment was destroyed and the complex lost access to electricity. “I was so scared, because I haven’t seen her in a long time,” said Paez, 23, choking up.
Paez is one of many Venezuelans in Calgary reeling from the news of two disastrous earthquakes that shook Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, claimed at least 164 lives and displaced a thousand more. The shocks toppled buildings, knocked out communications and sent people rushing out of their damaged homes.
Earthquake Magnitude and Impact
The temblors, a 7.2-magnitude quake followed by another at 7.5 magnitude, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in the past century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The extent of the destruction was unclear, but the agency said that “high casualties and damage are probable,” estimating a significant chance of fatalities rising into the thousands. A 7.5-magnitude earthquake is nearly twice as strong as one at 7.2 magnitude on the logarithmic Richter scale.
Interim president Delcy Rodríguez said there were at least 164 deaths and 971 people injured in remarks to state television early Thursday. In an earlier televised update, she declared a state of emergency and said the electrical grid and water access had been affected in several areas. The hardest-hit region was La Guaira, the coastal state near Caracas where the main international airport is located and where dozens of buildings have collapsed, Rodriguez said, describing it as “a disaster zone.” “We’re currently working arduously to save the lives that God permits us to save,” she said. “It’s a true tragedy.”
Local Fundraising Efforts
Ernest Gudino, a volunteer with the Venezuelan Canadian Association of Calgary, said the group is mobilizing to support victims. “We are working to collect money to send to Venezuela to help not only the people who are now without housing, and don't have anything right now, and also to help people who are rescuing them,” Gudino said. The association is coordinating with local community members to gather funds and supplies for those affected.
Canada Pledges Aid
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada will provide $5 million in humanitarian aid to Venezuela through “trusted and experienced” partners on the ground. She admitted in a media interview that an absence of diplomatic ties with the country was a “challenge,” but Ottawa is ensuring the aid is routed appropriately by working with other countries and other humanitarian organizations. “Engagement doesn’t mean endorsement,” she said. “We need to find efficient ways to help on an international scale, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” Anand estimated around 800 Canadians in Venezuela who are affiliated with Global Affairs, adding the government isn’t looking to restart a Canadian embassy in the country.
