After Venezuela quakes, citizens lead rescues amid military theft accusations

Venezuelans have been stepping up to speed up rescue operations as the search for survivors and victims of back-to-back earthquakes enters the eighth day.

People were were using shovels, ropes and their bare hands to dig through rubble, and blamed the "slow and inadequate state response" for delayed operations.

Among the challenges, they say, is thwarting efforts by some members of the Venezuelan military and police to block aid, co-opt donations and even loot from collapsed buildings.

Some Venezuelans have vented their frustration via social media, sharing videos showing security officials picking through the destruction and taking clothes, appliances and cash.

Reuters has not verified the videos’ authenticity, but four crime scene police officials have been detained and removed from their jobs and will be investigated for "appropriating financial assets acquired amid the ruins", the Interior Ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday, adding that police have generally been acting transparently.

Other videos show members of the Venezuelan military looking on while brandishing guns as local volunteers and foreign rescue teams rush to find survivors.

Venezuela's Ministry of Communications, which handles media inquiries for the military and police, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Senior government officials have attributed growing civilian anger and reports of military personnel involvement in looting and slow aid to misinformation. They have urged the public to ignore "manipulation strategies on social networks" and rely on official information.

Two international rescue teams have been working since Tuesday to assist local firefighters and forensic crew in rescue efforts but they still lacked needed heavy equipment, he said.

'MAKING DO'

Backlash over the Venezuelan government’s response comes as acting President Delcy Rodriguez is trying to shore up her power following the ouster of her predecessor Nicolas Maduro in January. “Delcy and company have been in charge for 26 years and they only have one script,” said Jimmy Story, US ambassador to Venezuela until 2023. “They take credit for anything positive, push blame for anything negative and try to control the narrative.”

President Donald Trump has hailed the US relationship with Rodriguez, and American companies have expressed interest in everything from oil to gold.

The US Embassy's Charge d'Affaires John Barrett also vouched for Rodriguez’s handling of the disaster, telling Univision on Monday that he had “a great deal of confidence” in local authorities.

After initially thanking civilian volunteers, the government on Friday restricted public access to La Guaira, enraging people trying to help find survivors.

One government employee stationed at a checkpoint in La Guaira on Sunday told Reuters they witnessed police officers and military personnel commandeer aid from three trucks carrying supplies, bragging about what they had managed to “score”.

The quakes have caused an estimated $6.7 billion in damage, the United Nations Development Programme said.

The US has pledged $350 million, sent rescue teams and deployed the military to fix the airport, but some observers have pointed to billions of dollars from oil sales sitting in a US-controlled account.