‘God is punishing the politicians’: anger at earthquake response grows in Venezuela

Key Points:

• Public anger is mounting in Venezuela over the government's perceived mishandling of twin earthquakes that killed nearly 4,500 people, highlighted by a viral confrontation between a grieving mother and Nicolás Maduro's son at a damaged housing project.
• The official death toll from the 24 June quakes has been raised to 4,490, with many bodies still being recovered, while critics accuse the government of a slow and inadequate response, leaving victims to fend for themselves.
• Acting president Delcy Rodríguez dismissed criticism as propaganda and emphasized military efforts, but her harsh rhetoric and lack of engagement with affected families have further fueled public outrage.
• Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of the imprisoned former president, expressed sympathy for victims but deflected questions about the quality of government housing, exacerbating frustration amid accusations of shoddy construction.
• The disaster has intensified opposition to Maduro's socialist regime amid economic and humanitarian crises, with concerns that social unrest could undermine US-backed efforts to control Venezuela, despite ongoing American military support.