Protección Civil Denies Reports of New Survivors at OPP26 in La Guaira

Official Denial of Survival Reports at OPP26

The state of emergency in La Guaira, Venezuela, remains tense nearly a month after the dual earthquakes of June 24. Early on July 23, rumors spread rapidly across platforms like TikTok, suggesting that rescue teams had detected signs of life beneath the rubble of the OPP26 housing complex. These reports, which were amplified by live-streamed footage showing police and rescue workers at the site, prompted immediate public speculation.

By Thursday, the National Directorate of Civil Protection and Disaster Management issued a definitive statement through the Ministry of Communication to quell the misinformation.

Protección Civil clarified that the noise and movement detected by rescue teams—which some observers interpreted as signs of life—were actually caused by the shifting of debris within the unstable structure. The agency urged the public and media to rely solely on official channels, warning that spreading unverified reports plays with the hopes of Venezuelan families.

Search Operations and International Involvement

The confusion at the OPP26 site was compounded by the presence of both domestic and international rescue teams, including groups like the Mexican Topos USAR. According to reports from the field, specialized equipment had detected thermal signals that triggered a heightened response. However, experts noted that such readings can be misleading in disaster zones, often resulting from the decomposition of remains rather than the presence of living individuals.

Following a multi-hour evaluation that yielded no confirmation of survivors, international teams withdrew from the site, leaving ongoing operations to Venezuelan personnel. The government has committed to continuing these efforts, with officials stating they would not stop until they have exhausted every possible avenue in the affected area. To date, the last confirmed rescue occurred on July 2, when Hernán Gil was pulled from the rubble of a separate location, the Sol Marino shopping center, after eight days.

Casualties and Ongoing Identification Efforts

Amid the recovery, the government has launched a new verification process for families still searching for missing children and adolescents. Authorities have called for relatives to provide DNA samples to help identify 38 bodies currently held at a temporary morgue in the port of La Guaira.

The incident has sparked broader criticism regarding the flow of information during emergencies. The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) of Venezuela criticized the spread of unconfirmed reports, emphasizing the necessity of responsible information management. The organization noted that presenting rumors as confirmed facts causes unnecessary trauma for the families of the missing and disrupts the work of rescue teams on the ground.

As the country approaches the one-month mark since the seismic event, the government has announced a reconstruction plan aimed at delivering thousands of new housing units by December, with a broader goal of many more homes by 2027. For now, the focus remains on the grim task of recovery and the identification of victims in La Guaira, with authorities reiterating that any further updates will be communicated in a timely, transparent, and exclusive manner through official media outlets and spokespersons.