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A Venezuelan woman living in Saskatoon says the emotional toll of the disaster that struck her home country is being felt far beyond its borders.
On Wednesday, two powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck the country, killing hundreds and injuring thousands more. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes were some of the strongest to strike Venezuela in over a century.
The rare double earthquakes struck northern Venezuela 39 seconds apart, and officials reported Friday the death toll had risen to 920, with more than 3,360 people injured.
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Betzabeth Jaramillo has lived in Saskatoon for three years and has family in Maracay and friends in Caracas, which suffered some of the most severe damage and casualties.
“I’m happy because my family is good, but my heart is broken for many people that are missing,” she said in an interview with CKOM news.
Jaramillo said her friends and family back home are “crying a lot” and feel “completely destroyed.” She said they are volunteering with search and rescue crews to help other families find their loved ones.
While Jaramillo said she is grateful her family is safe from the disaster, she still feels emotional and heartbroken for those at home stuck in the tragedy.
“It’s impossible not to not to feel the pain when you spend the day seeing the collapse of buildings, families searching for their loved ones, and so many people are waiting for answers.”
Jaramillo explained that it has been difficult to focus on daily life in Canada and that she feels as if her heart and mind are still in Venezuela.
“It’s difficult to go to sleep … because you are just thinking about the people inside the buildings.”
Jaramillo said she would like to see more rescue teams, medical personnel, as well as humanitarian support and aid.
“The first 72 hours are critical,” she said.
Jaramillo said she hopes those back home in Venezuela know “they are not alone.”
“Please pray for Venezuela,” she said. “We need hope to try to find people inside the buildings.”
Residents search through the rubble of a building that collapsed in an earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Canada to extend support
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the situation in Venezuela following two catastrophic earthquakes is “horrific” and Canada will look to expand its humanitarian support for the region.
Canada announced Thursday it’s providing $5 million in humanitarian aid to support emergency relief efforts in Venezuela and Anand said Friday Canada is looking to do more on that front.
During a press conference Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the lack of an embassy in Venezuela makes distributing aid there more difficult.
Anand said Friday the government is working with its mission in Colombia to help the roughly 800 Canadians registered in the area and is also in touch with the United Kingdom to look at working together on a humanitarian response.
Canada and Venezuela have not formally severed relations but Ottawa closed its Caracas embassy in June 2019 after Venezuela refused to renew expiring visas for diplomats.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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