‘It’s all damaged’: Winnipeg man relieved family is safe after twin earthquakes in Venezuela

A local organization is mobilizing help so aid can be provided to Venezuela following a pair of deadly earthquakes.

A Winnipegger with connections to Venezuela said he is relieved his family is safe following a pair of massive earthquakes that killed hundreds Wednesday night.

The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in the northern parts of the country were among the strongest earthquakes to hit the South American country in decades. Venezuela’s National Assembly said Thursday at least 188 people have been killed and more than 200 people remain trapped.

Luiz Antonio Rodrigues Bonito, a Winnipegger who previously lived in Venezuela and has family still living in the country, was watching the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday when he received a text message from a friend living telling him everyone was alright.

“I then went and saw the news about the earthquake and the videos and everything was bad,” Bonito said.

Large portions of the country were without internet access and power due to the storm, and Bonito struggled to connect with family members in Venezuela. He said a cousin in Panama was able to contact the family and confirm their safety.

“Everyone is okay,” he said. “Nobody is injured. The building has a crack in it, so maybe they can fix it.”

Bonito called the damage “terrifying.”

“You see a lot of big buildings fall on the coast,” he said. “The airport is closed; the runway is cracked. It’s all damaged.”

Bonito said when he was younger, he experienced a small earthquake in Venezuela, but large ones, like Wednesday’s, are rare for the country.

He said the biggest priority right now is rescuing people who may still be trapped in the rubble.

Aid group on the ground already

Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), a Winnipeg-based aid organization, said Thursday efforts are underway to bring relief and help to people affected.

“We’ve got assessments that are ongoing, trying to rapidly just discern where needs are most acute and what the needs actually are in those places, but then at the same time also trying to respond immediately with what we do have,” said Jason Carkner, senior director of programs and strategy with CLWR.

Carkner said representatives from their partner organization, the Lutheran World Federation, are in Venezuela and experienced the earthquake directly.

“Many of these staff slept outside last night,” he said. “They’re affected by the impacts of this earthquake very directly, very personally.

“The communities that they’re partnering with are, in fact, their neighbours, and they’re working with them together to jointly find a way to respond and support people that are most acutely impacted.”

CLWR are collecting donations to help pay for emergency kits and other supplies needed for people in need. Donation information can be found online.

-with files from The Associated Press