Colombia's earthquake is déjà vu for Venezuelans, but the government response is anything but. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
After the earthquake that struck Cali, Colombia, on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, residents and rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors. This event recalled the earthquake in La Guaira, Venezuela, in June 2026, where Franklin Fuentes searched for missing relatives in the collapsed building where they lived two days after the quakes.
In Cali, volunteers provided supplies to those affected. In Venezuela, after the earthquake in La Guaira, volunteers also distributed supplies. Patients from a clinic in Cali, evacuated due to earthquake damage, were placed in a temporary facility set up in a gymnasium at a nearby school.
In Venezuela, buildings damaged during the earthquakes in La Guaira were marked with "S.O.S." painted signs. In Cali, rescue workers carried Diana Troncoso after pulling her from the rubble. These events highlight the different responses to natural disasters in the two countries.
Associated Press photojournalists Ariana Cubillos, Santiago Saldarriaga, Matias Delacroix, and Ivan Valencia captured the aftermath of the earthquakes in both countries. The photos show rescue efforts, aid distribution, and damaged buildings.
The earthquake in Colombia occurred on Aug. 10, 2026, while the one in Venezuela occurred in June 2026. Both events caused numerous casualties and extensive destruction. However, the governments' responses were different.
After the earthquake in Venezuela, authorities acted slowly, while in Colombia, rescue operations were quickly organized. This difference may be due to the political situation in each country. Economic crisis and political instability in Venezuela hinder disaster response.
Associated Press covered these events in detail with photographs, allowing a comparison of the aftermath and government actions in the two countries.