Venezuelan disaster response under scrutiny as heavy rains hit Monagas and reconstruction stalls in La Guaira

Carlos Teixeira, a member of the committee of the Red de Sobrevivientes de Vargas, criticised the handling of past disasters in Vargas state, noting that the master plan presented by President Chávez in 2000 was never fully implemented. Of the 12,758 homes promised under the 2005 plan, only 613 were built, and many residents have returned to high‑risk zones without adequate mitigation measures.

On 4 August 2026, heavy rains and strong winds driven by tropical wave number 34 struck Monagas, Venezuela. The storm caused trees to fall, roofs to collapse, power outages and road blockages on main avenues such as Raúl Leoni and Libertador, and damaged the perimeter of the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Cathedral. The system is moving westward toward Guyana Esequiba.