Colombia’s earthquake is déjà vu for Venezuelans. The government response is anything but
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — For the second time in two months, the ground was shaking in South America. Once again, families flooded social media with pleas for help finding…
Colombia and Venezuela experienced earthquakes within two months of each other, prompting international aid and government responses. In Venezuela, acting President Delcy Rodríguez delayed her address to the nation for nearly four hours, while Colombia's newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella swiftly announced an emergency command post to oversee rescue efforts only an hour after the 7.4-magnitude quake struck.
While Venezuelans were manually sifting through rubble, Colombian rescue teams utilized cranes and excavators immediately. Rodríguez sought assistance from global rescuers to address gaps in her nation's response, while Colombia, citing sufficient personnel, requested humanitarian supplies instead. This stark contrast highlights the political systems, resources, and institutional strengths of the neighboring countries, showing how they can become life-or-death factors during disasters.
Political newcomers like De la Espriella can demonstrate the impact of different governance structures in emergency situations.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
