La Guaira residents struggle to recover livelihoods after devastating earthquakes

In the coastal state of La Guaira, Venezuela, fishermen and merchants are working to rebuild their livelihoods following devastating earthquakes that struck on June 24. The tremors, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, resulted in at least 6,301 deaths and 73,356 injuries according to official reports.

Local fishing activities are gradually resuming at the La Zorra pier in Catia La Mar. Fishermen report that while fuel shortages initially prevented them from working for a week, the availability of gasoline has allowed them to return to sea. Although demand for products like yellowfin tuna has decreased since the disaster, workers hope sales will stabilize soon.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture reports that approximately 60% of specialized restaurants in the region have reopened. However, the recovery remains difficult as many fishing families continue to search for relatives among the rubble of collapsed buildings in residential areas such as the OPPE and Hugo Chávez developments.