146 Deported Venezuelans Missing After Earthquake Collapses Hotel

Deportation Flight Lands Hours Before Devastating Quake

On June 24, 2026, a group of 146 Venezuelans deported from the United States arrived at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas. Within hours, two powerful earthquakes—magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5—struck Venezuela's northern coast, collapsing the hotel where the deportees were being held and leaving them buried under rubble. Only 12 of the 147 people on the flight are known to have survived, according to Spanish newspaper El País, which spoke with dozens of family members.

The deportees, including 120 men, 19 women, and seven children, were transferred to Hotel Santuario La Llanada in the coastal region of La Guaira. The hotel, previously used as a homeless shelter and isolation facility, was completely destroyed when the earthquakes struck at 18:04 local time. The disaster has compounded the tragedy of deportation with a natural catastrophe, leaving families on both sides of the border in anguish.

The Flight of Misfortune

Video footage shared by Venezuelan authorities showed the deportees arriving at the airport, with officials handing out gifts to children. But the polished images quickly gave way to desperate pleas. 'Could you provide information about the people who arrived on that flight and still haven't come home after the earthquake?' wrote Moises Valdivia, a relative of one deportee. 'The anxiety is becoming overwhelming.'

The deportees had been rounded up in Florida and other US states under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Joan, a 28-year-old deportee, was arrested on his way to work in Florida. He survived the hotel collapse by taking cover under a bunk bed. 'He says he survived because a bunk bed fell on top of him. The mattresses helped him withstand the weight of the debris,' his wife Daniela told El País. After three hours, he managed to escape on his own, unlike many others.

Hotel Collapse Trapped Deportees Inside

The Hotel Santuario La Llanada collapse killed an estimated 135 deportees. Arturo Alejandro Morales, who was to turn 25 the day after the quake, did not survive. His father, Arturo José, had no idea his son had been deported and assumed he was still in US custody. A fellow deportee had to break the news.

Anderson Daniel Salcedo Lozano, 21, survived but lost both legs. His parents blame the Venezuelan government. Survivors reported that the hotel doors remained locked during the earthquake. 'They kept them locked up as if they were thieves or criminals,' said his mother, Yulis Salcedo.

Families Plead for Rescue Efforts

Despite interim President Delcy Rodríguez's assurances of a large-scale rescue operation, families say nothing is happening at the hotel site. 'The hotel where everyone from that flight was staying has collapsed. No one is clearing the rubble. Help, please!' wrote Daniely Hurtado two days after the disaster. Veronica Nieves, whose brother-in-law was trapped, added: 'There are still people alive in there. There have been hardly any rescue workers, hardly anyone who can help.'

Relatives report that officials are preventing family members from approaching the rubble. The Venezuelan government has not released any official list of victims from the hotel. Families have taken to social media and hospitals, distributing missing-person flyers with happy photos of their loved ones, labeled 'Desaparecido' (missing).

International Response and Aid

The 2026 Venezuela earthquakes have caused at least 1,719 deaths, over 5,000 injuries, and more than 46,600 missing, according to USGS data. The US has suspended many sanctions against Venezuela and mobilized $150 million in aid. However, for the families of the deported Venezuelans, the help has not arrived quickly enough. The tragedy highlights the intersection of US immigration policy and natural disaster, with deportation risks in disaster zones now under renewed scrutiny.

FAQ

How many Venezuelans were deported on the day of the earthquake?

A total of 147 Venezuelans (146 deportees plus one accompanying official) arrived on a flight from Miami on June 24, 2026. Only 12 are known to have survived the hotel collapse.

Where were the deportees housed?

They were taken to Hotel Santuario La Llanada in La Guaira, a coastal region near Caracas that was epicentral to the earthquakes.

Why couldn't the deportees escape the hotel?

Survivors and family members report that the hotel doors were locked from the outside, trapping the deportees inside as the building collapsed.

What has the Venezuelan government said about the victims?

The government has not released an official death toll or list of victims from the hotel. Interim President Rodríguez has promised rescue efforts, but families say little action has been taken at the site.

How has the US responded?

The US has suspended many sanctions against Venezuela and pledged $150 million in humanitarian aid, though the deportee tragedy has sparked criticism of immigration policies.

Sources

This article is based on reporting from El País, Il Sole 24 Ore, The New York Times, and the USGS.