Venezuelan Surf Federation honors earthquake victims in La Guaira

On Saturday morning, the Venezuelan Surf Federation organized a traditional paddle‑out at Playa Surfista in the Mare Abajo area of La Guaira, near the Simón Bolívar International Airport. Decades‑old surf rituals were observed: participants gathered on the sand, placed purple and white flower bouquets, observed a moment of silence, then entered the water in a circle, paddling together while tossing flowers into the sea to honor the roughly 30 surf community members who died in the June 24 double earthquake.

The ceremony was filmed against a backdrop of collapsed coastal buildings and temporary shelters set up in the area, including the “Ciudad Carpita” camp. The event highlighted the extensive damage to the region’s infrastructure and the ongoing grief of families, friends, and local entrepreneurs who lost loved ones in the seismic disaster.