Dozens of buildings have collapsed or sustained serious damage in the state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, due to the double earthquake that struck Venezuela, as reported by an Agence France-Presse journalist on the ground.
AFP saw many people searching through the rubble for their loved ones in the dark, as the electricity.
The Venezuelan authorities must “immediately” restore access to social media and news outlets following the double earthquake that struck the country, a special mission from the UN on human rights stated today, describing this measure as “vital.”
“In the coming hours and days, access to information will be a matter of life or death,” stated the UN fact-finding mission on Venezuela in a press release, expressing its deep concern and sorrow.
“It is essential that a full commitment to human rights guide all aspects of the national and international response to this immense tragedy,” stated the UN mission. “As a first critical step, it is vital that Conatel (the National Telecommunications Commission in Venezuela), the country’s telecommunications regulator, to fully unblock access to social media and all media outlets,” it stated, adding that “there can be no excuse for not doing this immediately.”
The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which ranks Venezuela 159th (out of 180) in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, argues that the government has shut down numerous media outlets, blocked news content online, and imposed restrictions on access to information.
