Venezuelans in Montreal grieve as death toll climbs past 900

Aymara Agreda hasn't heard from her brother-in-law's cousin since Wednesday evening, June 24, when two catastrophic earthquakes hit Venezuela. A cell signal from Andry Quiaro's phone pinged briefly, but there's been no word on her whereabouts or condition since. Agreda and her family have shared missing person posters across social media, still hoping for news.

As of Friday, June 26, the death toll in Venezuela has risen to 920, with over 3,360 people injured, according to Venezuelan authorities. The infrastructure needed to rescue people from the rubble is severely lacking, particularly in Catia La Mar, where Quiaro was last known to be.

Marco Russo, owner of Bocadillo Bistro in Little Italy, has managed to reach some family and friends overseas, but the uncertainty weighs heavily. His cousin was forced to evacuate with her two sons and spent their first night sleeping in a car after fleeing their apartment.

For Montreal's Venezuelan community, the distance compounds the trauma. "We're very far from our loved ones," Agreda said. She's urging locals to donate water, non-perishable food, first aid kits, and hard hats to aid rescue efforts. Michelle Rodriguez, another Venezuelan-Montrealer, said the panic hit instantly when she heard the news. "You let everything burn because your mind goes completely to those people that you love," she said.