Four Venezuelan police officers have been arrested and face dismissal after authorities accused them of stealing cash from the ruins of a collapsed building as rescue efforts continue following last week’s catastrophic twin earthquakes that have killed at least 2,595 people.
The officers, members of Venezuela’s Scientific, Penal, and Criminalistic Investigation Service Corps (CICPC), were arrested in Playa Grande in the hard-hit coastal state of La Guaira after videos circulated on social media appearing to show officers removing cash from a safe buried in the rubble.
In a statement, the CICPC said the officers had been relieved of their duties and that disciplinary proceedings had begun to result in their permanent dismissal.
“In light of the recent events in the areas affected by the earthquakes in La Guaira state, it was confirmed that a group of officers, deviating from their duties and taking advantage of the rescue and humanitarian aid efforts, acted improperly by appropriating valuables found among the rubble,” the agency said, The Guardian reported.
The statement added that the officers’ actions were “reprehensible and contrary to the fundamental values” of the agency and had damaged public trust.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello also condemned the officers, calling their alleged actions “shameless, indecent and immoral,” according to Newsweek.
Rescue Efforts Continue
The arrests come as rescue teams and volunteers continue searching for survivors more than a week after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Venezuela on June 24, followed less than 40 seconds later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Friday that the death toll had risen to 2,595, an increase of 300 from the previous day. More than 12,000 people have been injured, while tens of thousands remain unaccounted for.
Authorities say nearly 800 buildings collapsed, including 189 that were completely destroyed. However, a preliminary satellite analysis by NASA and Oregon State University estimated that approximately 58,870 buildings were likely damaged or destroyed, far exceeding official figures.
Despite fading hopes, rescuers have continued pulling survivors from the debris. International teams rescued 44-year-old security guard Hernán Gil after he spent more than a week trapped beneath a collapsed building in Playa Grande.
Frustration Mounts Over Government Response
Public anger has grown over what many residents and volunteers describe as a slow and disorganized government response.
Volunteers from across Venezuela have traveled to La Guaira carrying little more than shovels, ropes, and basic medical supplies, saying they are filling gaps left by the official response.
“We want to do everything we can to help,” volunteer Fabiano Nadales said while traveling with medical students and amateur rescuers from Valencia, The Guardian reported.
Some volunteers accused authorities of blocking aid deliveries and restricting access to devastated neighborhoods. Government officials have denied those claims, blaming misinformation spread on social media and urging the public to rely on official updates.
Alexander Delgado, a teacher volunteering in La Guaira, said he had seen firefighters and international rescue teams working but little evidence of a broader government presence.
“You see the firefighters and Los Topos,” he told Reuters, referring to the Mexican search-and-rescue team. “But you don’t see the state, per se.”
Hospitals Overwhelmed
Humanitarian organizations say conditions remain dire in northern Venezuela.
According to relief officials, several hospitals have reached as much as 900% of their normal capacity, while dozens of medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Power outages, damaged water systems, blocked roads, and disrupted communications have further complicated rescue and recovery efforts.
The United Nations has ordered 10,000 body bags after consultations with Venezuelan authorities, while aid organizations have warned of growing risks from disease outbreaks, untreated injuries, and poor sanitation in emergency shelters.
People waiting for food at shelters have also described shortages.
“They give out supplies here, but sometimes people nearly kill each other for food,” La Guaira resident Daniela Armas said, per The Guardian. “It’s like a cockfight.”
International Aid Expands
The United States has launched one of its largest international disaster responses in recent years, deploying more than 900 personnel inside Venezuela and hundreds more to nearby Caribbean staging areas. The Trump administration has also pledged $150 million in humanitarian assistance.
Additional rescue teams and aid have arrived from countries including Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Switzerland, Colombia, and Spain under United Nations coordination.
The U.N. Development Programme estimates the earthquakes caused approximately $6.7 billion in direct physical damage, equal to about 6% of Venezuela’s gross domestic product. Risk modeling firm Verisk estimates total economic losses could exceed $10 billion.
While the government says rescue operations remain ongoing, the arrests of the four officers have added to growing scrutiny over the country’s response to one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern Venezuelan history.
