Uncertainty and anguish over the earthquake among the Venezuelan community in Barcelona

The President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, has confirmed that at least 164 people have died and 970 have been injured by a double earthquake registered this morning in the country.

Seismographs have recorded 30 aftershocks after the two earthquakes that registered 7.2 and 7.5 on the richter scale.

The Venezuelan community in the Catalan capital is feeling "uncertainty" and "distress" after the catastrophe, as communication is "very difficult" due to the damage caused.

Migrants from the country in Barcelona are already working to organize aid for those affected.

President of the Catalan-Venezuelan Association Asocaven, José Luis Acuña, explained that various associations in the city will hold a meeting this afternoon to plan how they can support the victims of the earthquake.

The country's main airport, he said, is closed, which means "alternatives must be sought" to be able to send both financial resources and "medicines and first aid materials."

Their goal is to be able to send products from a place other than Europe, but closer to Venezuela, so that they arrive sooner.

Ronald has lived in Barcelona for years but is originally from the Guaira area in Venezuela, one of the regions most affected by the earthquake that hit the Latin American country this Wednesday.

From a bar specializing in Venezuelan cuisine, he tells the Catalan News Agency that he has been trying to contact his relatives to ensure that they are well, and he has not yet been able to speak to seven of them.

He admits that he has not been able to sleep because he has been trying to communicate with friends and family "all night." Some have told him that they have moved to a sports centre with water and internet connection that has been set up.

However, he has seven relatives who he does not know "if they are under the rubble, if they were able to escape, if they were able to take refuge or if they have died."

Robert, another Venezuelan in Barcelona, ​​admits he is feeling "great anxiety" because he keeps receiving videos of the catastrophe. "It hurts to see so many people missing," he adds.

In his case, he has been able to speak to some relatives who have confirmed that they are fine, but he has also suffered from the communication complication.