COLOMBIA – A 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has underscored the operational differences between the country's democratic institutions and Venezuela's authoritarian system, particularly in disaster response. The seismic event, which caused buildings to collapse and triggered widespread damage, occurred less than two months after a series of tremors hit Venezuela.
In Colombia, newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just days before the earthquake, announced an emergency command post to oversee rescue efforts within an hour of the quake. This swift action contrasted with Venezuela's response to its earthquakes on June 24, where acting President Delcy Rodríguez waited nearly four hours to address the nation. While Venezuelan civilians spent weeks digging through rubble by hand, Colombian rescue teams were equipped with cranes and excavators within hours of Monday's quake.
Colombia's government has so far declined foreign rescue crews, with the exception of teams from the United States, stating that it possesses sufficient personnel and has instead requested humanitarian supplies. This approach differs from Venezuela's reliance on international rescuers to compensate for state capacity gaps.
"The differences between an authoritarian regime and a democratic system can be seen clearly in the institutions and in their capacity to respond to an emergency," said Ronal Rodríguez, a Venezuela specialist at Colombia's Rosario University. "Crises are also political opportunities."
De la Espriella, a former criminal defense lawyer, assumed the presidency in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, amidst a contentious political transition from his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, the country's first leftist president. Petro had initially questioned the election results, leading to a delay in the formal handover process and leaving key agencies, including the national disaster management agency, under officials criticized by the incoming administration.
Despite these political tensions, humanitarian workers noted that the earthquake response has transcended partisan divides. "All the institutions have worked," said María José Torres Macho, the United Nations' top official in Colombia. "Our ability to be working with them has not been affected by the change of government."
President de la Espriella immediately posted a video stating he would "personally assume leadership" of the disaster response, reassuring Colombians that they were not alone. Within 36 hours, he had visited disaster zones in Quibdo, Cali, and Pereira, and dispatched ministers to other affected areas.
"There is an entire system that means that even when you change the person at the top, the institution keeps functioning," said Ana Karina García, director of Fundación Juntos Se Puede, a Venezuelan migrant aid group based in Colombia.
However, Colombia's response has faced scrutiny. De la Espriella's decision to limit foreign rescue teams drew criticism, with China's ambassador publicly questioning the coordination of international assistance. Rugged terrain, poor infrastructure, and communication disruptions have also slowed casualty reporting from the most affected regions. The official death toll of at least 265 dead and 500 missing has been disputed by local authorities and an independent database that lists over 4,100 unaccounted for.
In Venezuela, the government's response to its earthquakes was marked by delays and internal power struggles. Hours before Rodríguez's national emergency declaration, her interior minister appeared on state television with damage reports, suggesting competing claims to authority. The initial casualty count of 32 dead, which excluded the hardest-hit area of La Guaira, fueled concerns of an undercount, especially as many victims lived in subsidized housing projects. Reports indicated that civilians attempted to recover bodies without heavy machinery.
More than six weeks after the Venezuelan quakes, an opposition-run database reported 29,000 people unaccounted for, while the government's death toll stood at 6,301. Years of political repression have contributed to public distrust of official emergency information in Venezuela, making it difficult for citizens to access critical data and seek help, according to Venezuelan opposition journalist Gabriel Bastidas.
Experts caution that a complete picture of the impact of large-scale disasters takes time to emerge. Colombia is only days into its recovery efforts, with thousands still missing. Nevertheless, the contrast in immediate response capabilities has been notable for many Venezuelans observing the situation in Colombia.