local
Venezuelans scour collapsed buildings by hand while government machinery stands unused
By Max Saltman, Isa Soares, Madalena Araujo at KXXV (ABC 25) News
· July 1, 2026
· 6 min read
As Venezuelans in La Guaira continued to pick through the rubble of downed buildings yesterday, a government excavator stood immobile next to a pile of concrete and bent rebar.There is plenty of work to do nearly a week after two massive earthquakes destroyed much of this coastal city. Heavy mach...
Key takeaway People are outraged, said political analyst Carmen Beatriz Fernndez, director of the consulting firm DataStrategia.
Why this matters in The Waco
The situation in Venezuela has significant implications for Waco 's own disaster response efforts. As the city's residents watch the struggles of Venezuelans to recover from the earthquakes, they may wonder about the readiness of local authorities to respond to a similar crisis. The fact that heavy machinery stood idle due to a lack of fuel raises questions about the preparedness of Waco's emergency services to deploy necessary equipment in a timely manner. Furthermore, the arrests of officials for corruption and misconduct in Venezuela serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in disaster response. In Waco, community leaders and residents should be aware of the city's emergency response plans and protocols, and ensure that they are adequate to meet the needs of the community in the event of a disaster. This includes having a plan in place for fueling and deploying heavy machinery, as well as measures to prevent corruption and misconduct.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 1, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? As Venezuelans in La Guaira continued to pick through the rubble of downed buildings yesterday, a government excavator stood immobile next to a pile of concrete and bent rebar.There is plenty of work to do nearly a week after two massive earthquakes destroyed much of this coastal city. Heavy mach...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 1, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Max Saltman, Isa Soares, Madalena Araujo at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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