Venezuelan migrants mourn loved ones via video after deadly June earthquake
Los Angeles-based Venezuelan migrants Liz Marrero and Crismar Chacín learned of family deaths and injuries through video calls after the June 24 quake in La Guaira.
After a double earthquake struck La Guaira on June 24, Los Angeles-based dancer Liz Marrero saw her mother’s corpse on a video call, identifying the body by the hands shown on screen. Her nephews survived; one, Samuel, suffered multiple fractures and facial paralysis, requiring intensive medical care. Liz launched a GoFundMe that collected more than $70,000, funding dance workshops in 13 cities and a stage at Next Fest LA to support the children’s baseball aspirations.
Meanwhile, actress Crismar Chacín, also in Los Angeles, heard her mother’s brief call announcing the quake and later confirmed her brother Cristian’s death by his tattoo during a neighbor-led rescue. Both migrants are stuck in the U.S. by immigration limits, hoping to reunite with family once their residency cases are resolved.
Why it matters
The story shows how diaspora communities cope with disaster grief across borders and highlights immigration hurdles that keep families apart.
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