safety
As quake rescue effort winds down, Venezuelans are left alone to recover their dead
By FERNANDA PESCE and ISABEL DEBRE, Associated Press at Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar)
· July 6, 2026
· 1 min read
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — When the high-rise where Noel Márquez lived with his family crashed to the ground and burst into flames in Venezuela's twin earthquakes, Márquez, who happened to be at his girlfriend’s apartment, raced home and called out for his mother, grandparents and siblings. Only...
Key takeaway Only his 17-year-old brother, his legs pinned under [...
Why this matters in The Odessa
The devastating earthquakes in Venezuela serve as a stark reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness in seismic-prone areas. While Odessa is not typically known for earthquake activity, the city's location in the Permian Basin means that residents should still be aware of the potential risks associated with seismic events triggered by human activities such as oil and gas extraction. As Venezuelans work to recover from this tragedy, Odessa residents can take note of the critical role that emergency response planning and infrastructure play in mitigating the impact of disasters. The city's emergency management officials would do well to review their own response protocols and conduct regular drills to ensure that residents are prepared in the event of a seismic emergency. By learning from the experiences of other communities, Odessa can work to build a more resilient and disaster-ready community.
About this story
Original reporting by Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 6, 2026 ·
Source: Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — When the high-rise where Noel Márquez lived with his family crashed to the ground and burst into flames in Venezuela's twin earthquakes, Márquez, who happened to be at his girlfriend’s apartment, raced home and called out for his mother, grandparents and siblings. Only...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 6, 2026 by Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by FERNANDA PESCE and ISABEL DEBRE, Associated Press at Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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