BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela last week, and Bakersfield residents with family and friends there say it took several hours to make contact with their loved ones.
Carolina Lopez, who is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and has called Bakersfield home since 2008, said the uncertainty has left her unable to sleep.
"It's been 2 nights that I haven't been able to sleep. Two nights ago I went to sleep at 3 in the morning. Last night about 2:30 a.m. I'm always watching what's going on, it's a huge anxiety."
Lopez still has family and friends in Venezuela. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes left widespread damage across the country. Authorities say more than 770 buildings were totally or partially collapsed. Lopez said one of her friends who lives in La Guaira was able to get out to safety, but many others were not as fortunate.
"But she told me that several neighbors are trapped, they didn't have time to get out. We don't know if they're alive or dead."
When Lopez heard about the earthquakes, she immediately tried calling family members but struggled to reach them.
"For several minutes I didn't have communication. Then I was able to get a hold of a niece. There was no communication with my siblings or friends. After several hours of anxiety we found out they were fine."
Authorities also say the country has recorded 512 aftershocks since Wednesday.
Raquel Ferreria said the disaster is taking a heavy toll on everyone — especially children.
"I just saw a new story that there's lot of kids who don't have their parents, they're either trapped or missing... And we need a lot of support for them."
Despite the devastation, Lopez said she is grateful for the international support her country is receiving.
"Thank God, we're getting humanitarian help, from lots of countries, like Mexico, U.S., El Salvador, Ecuador, lots of countries are arriving to help us."
At least 1,450 people are confirmed dead following the two earthquakes.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Stay in Touch with Us Anytime, Anywhere:
