In brief
Twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June left dozens of buildings in ruins and cast long shadows over the country’s indigenous territories. Hernán Gil was found under 140‑tonne rubble after eight days, and rescue teams from Venezuela and international partners broke through the debris, saving his life. As the death toll surpassed 2 300 and thousands remain missing, the crisis exposes how the disaster disrupts traditional networks of healers and disrupts cultural practices. Local indigenous leaders mobilized community knowledge and natural medicine to aid the rescue, illustrating their integral role in disaster resilience. The event underscores the importance of protecting indigenous land rights, preserving cultural heritage, and integrating traditional wisdom into emergency response strategies.
On 24 June, twin earthquakes slammed the eastern plains of Venezuela, shattering roofs and trapping residents in collapsed buildings. Among those buried was 39‑year‑old Hernán Gil, whose body was later uncovered beneath 140 tons of rubble. After almost 100 hours of exhaustive search, international relief crews – including volunteers from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal and the United States – finally reached him, stabilizing him and ushering him into the light.
The quake’s devastation rippled beyond urban centers into the territories of countless indigenous peoples. In areas where the Wayuu, Warao, and other communities dwell, homes were razed and access to water and medicine was cut off. Without their traditional networks, many elders struggled to maintain the flow of ancestral knowledge and midwifery practices essential for community health.
In response, indigenous leaders organized relief operations that drew on centuries‑old survival tactics. They used pomade powders to keep bodies cool, delivered root‑based medicines, and helped coordinate the evacuation of vulnerable families. Their collaborative approach not only saved lives but also reinforced the social cohesion that keeps cultural identities intact in times of crisis.
With the death toll surpassing 2,300 and tens of thousands still missing, the disaster underscores a broader need to preserve indigenous land rights and integrate their knowledge systems into national disaster response plans. As communities rebuild, their voices—shaped by centuries of living in harmony with the land—must guide the path toward regeneration and resilience.
