30 June 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : More than 100 Venezuelans who were deported from the United States just hours before two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela have been reported missing after the hotel where they were staying collapsed, adding a tragic dimension to the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. Rescue workers continue searching through the rubble as anxious families await news of their loved ones.
According to officials and survivor accounts, a deportation flight carrying 146 Venezuelan nationals from Miami landed in Venezuela on June 24. The passengers, including 19 women and seven children, were temporarily accommodated in a hotel in the coastal state of La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the devastating earthquakes.
Only hours after their arrival, Venezuela was rocked by two major earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, causing widespread destruction across La Guaira and parts of Caracas. The hotel housing the recently deported migrants collapsed during the disaster, leaving more than 100 people unaccounted for.
Survivors described chaotic scenes as buildings crumbled around them. Some said they managed to escape through broken walls and debris, while others remained trapped beneath the rubble waiting for rescue teams. Several deportees reportedly helped rescue fellow survivors before emergency responders reached the site.
One survivor, Lisbeth Portillo, recounted narrowly escaping the collapsed building alongside about 20 other people. After making it out alive, she was eventually reunited with her family. Others remain desperately searching for relatives whose whereabouts are still unknown.
The disappearance of the deportees has drawn international attention because many had only just returned to Venezuela after being removed from the United States under immigration enforcement measures. Their families say communication has been extremely limited since the earthquakes, making it difficult to determine who survived and who remains trapped.
Emergency officials have acknowledged that rescue operations are being hampered by damaged infrastructure, blocked roads and disrupted communications. Search teams continue to work around the clock, racing against time as the crucial survival window narrows. International rescue personnel and humanitarian agencies have also joined local authorities in the relief effort.
The earthquakes have caused catastrophic damage across northern Venezuela. Latest reports indicate that more than 1,700 people have died, thousands have been injured and tens of thousands displaced. Hundreds of buildings have either collapsed or suffered severe structural damage, overwhelming emergency services.
Authorities have established temporary shelters and relief camps for survivors, while aid from several countries has begun arriving. Despite these efforts, many residents have criticized what they describe as a slow official response, saying volunteers and local communities were often the first to assist those trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The plight of the missing deportees has also highlighted broader concerns surrounding migration and disaster preparedness. Human rights organizations have called for transparency in identifying those missing and ensuring that families receive timely information about rescue efforts and victim identification.
Meanwhile, rescue workers continue using heavy machinery, search dogs and specialized equipment to locate survivors beneath the debris. Officials warn that aftershocks remain a significant risk, complicating operations and posing additional dangers to emergency personnel.
The United States has not publicly commented in detail on the missing deportees, while humanitarian organizations continue coordinating assistance with Venezuelan authorities. Families in both Venezuela and the United States remain hopeful that additional survivors will be found as rescue efforts continue.
As Venezuela confronts one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent years, the fate of the missing deportees has become a symbol of the immense human tragedy unfolding across the country. Rescue teams say they will continue searching until every possible effort has been exhausted, while families cling to hope that their loved ones may still be found alive.