Business Returns to La Guaira, Venezuela One Week After Deadly Earthquakes

Shops and businesses in the centre of Venezuela’s La Guaira state are slowly reopening a week after devastating earthquakes hit the region. But staff shortages, broken supply chains, and transport restrictions are making recovery tough.

A week after catastrophic earthquakes shook Venezuela, businesses in the heart of La Guaira state are cautiously reopening. Staff shortages, disrupted deliveries, and transport bans are making every working day a challenge.

Antonio Colmenares, a butcher shop worker in Carlos Soublette municipality, described how everything changed overnight. “We’re slowly selling off whatever is left in the fridges. Before, we worked from 7 AM to 7 PM. Now we open around 7:30 AM and shut by 4 PM,” he said.

Colmenares added that while many shops are back open, suppliers have not yet resumed regular deliveries. Owners are calling vendors constantly. They expect fresh stock only next week.

A correspondent on the ground saw residents shopping in an orderly manner in central La Guaira the part of the state that suffered less damage. Some stores are serving customers through half-open doors. Two petrol stations have also resumed operations.

But in the hardest-hit neighbourhoods, many surviving shops remain shut. Some stores are giving away free drinking water to local residents.

Authorities have banned civilian vehicles from entering La Guaira. This keeps emergency vehicles moving freely. However, it means staff commuting from Caracas are arriving late and leaving early.

Arlenys Linares, a Caracas resident working at a food import company, spoke about her daily struggle. “Getting to work has become much harder. A lot of public transport still isn’t running,” she told reporters.

She added that returning to work felt necessary, not optional. “It’s good that we could come back, because right now in this country if you don’t work, you practically don’t eat. So we have to show up,” she said.

Brando Morillo, a shop assistant who was at work when the earthquake struck, said the speed of it all was shocking. “Everything happened so fast. It was harder here than in some other places several buildings collapsed. But despite everything, people are slowly getting back to normal life,” he said.

Venezuela’s earthquake struck on June 24. According to the latest official figures, two earthquakes killed 2,295 people. More than 11,200 others sustained injuries. Rescue teams pulled 6,461 survivors from the rubble. Around 30,000 displaced people are still living in temporary shelters.