A hotel housing over 100 Venezuelans recently deported from the United States collapsed during powerful earthquakes in Venezuela, according to families of those affected. At least one person from the group has been confirmed dead.
The repatriation flight carrying the individuals, many of whom were families seeking asylum, arrived in Venezuela on June 24, according to a group that monitors deportation flights. A Venezuelan government official posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, showing 146 people aboard the flight.
After arriving, the group was reportedly sent to the Hotel Santuario La Llanada. Luisa Quintero told ABC News that her aunt, Johana Pineda, her husband, Richard Pereira, and their young son were on the flight from the U.S. Pineda and her son survived the collapse with minor injuries, but Pereira died.
Quintero stated that her family members had been living in Tennessee since 2023 and were seeking asylum. They were detained during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement the week of the earthquakes and were placed on a repatriation flight two days later.
"I found out they were in Venezuela because I saw my little cousin in a video the government posted," Quintero said.
The earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, with a 7.2 magnitude quake followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor. Officials reported that at least 1,719 people died and 5,034 were injured across the country. Rescue operations are ongoing.