CARACAS — More than two months after powerful earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela, one family in the coastal region of La Guaira continues an emotional search for an 18-year-old relative who disappeared during the disaster.

Andrés Molina has not been heard from since the twin earthquakes struck Venezuela. His aunt, Antonella Molina, and cousin Pedro have refused to abandon the search, distributing flyers, questioning residents and visiting areas where people have reported possible sightings.

The earthquakes caused extensive destruction across La Guaira, one of the areas hit hardest by the disaster. Andrés’ apartment building collapsed, killing his mother and brother. Family members later recovered their bodies from the ruins, but there was no sign of Andrés.

Search Continues Through the Ruins

The family has organized its own search effort as damaged neighborhoods continue to recover from the catastrophe.

Antonella and Pedro have approached residents, construction workers and others in the area, asking whether anyone has seen the missing teenager. Flyers carrying Andrés’ photograph and contact information have been circulated around La Guaira.

Several people have claimed to have seen a young man resembling Andrés since the earthquake. Some reports placed him near a golf course, a park or other locations around the devastated area, but repeated searches have failed to locate him.

One particularly encouraging report came from people who said Andrés had been seen collecting scrap material. Other residents have described seeing someone resembling him caring for stray cats, something that has given his relatives another reason to continue looking.

None of those sightings has been independently confirmed.

Questions Over the Missing

The search has also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the number of people still unaccounted for after the disaster.

Venezuelan authorities have reported a much smaller number of missing people than some independent accounts cited by international media. AP reported that government figures have put the number of missing at about 1,500, while independent estimates referenced in reporting have suggested that the actual number could be far higher.

The difference has added to the frustration of families who are still looking for relatives and say they have struggled to obtain reliable information.

For Andrés’ family, the statistics matter less than finding one person.

A Disaster That Changed La Guaira

The twin earthquakes caused widespread destruction in and around Caracas and the northern coastal region. The strongest tremors measured 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological Survey data cited by Reuters during the initial rescue operation.

Buildings collapsed, infrastructure was damaged and thousands of people were displaced.

The disaster’s effects remain visible in La Guaira, where damaged structures and ongoing construction continue to shape daily life.

Earlier recovery efforts also faced the enormous challenge of clearing rubble and identifying victims. Reuters reported during the initial response that tens of thousands of people were feared missing as rescuers worked through collapsed structures.

Hope Keeps the Search Alive

For Andrés’ relatives, every possible sighting creates a brief moment of hope.

They have contacted shelters, hospitals and morgues and continued searching neighborhoods where residents believe they may have seen him. Friends and relatives have joined the effort, walking through damaged areas and speaking with people who could provide information.

The family does not have confirmation that Andrés survived, but neither does it have confirmation that he died.

That uncertainty has kept the search alive.

Antonella and Pedro continue to return to the streets of La Guaira with photographs and questions, determined to find an answer after weeks of uncertainty.

Their search has become a deeply personal reminder of the human consequences that continue long after the headlines surrounding a natural disaster disappear.

For families like theirs, recovery is not simply about rebuilding homes or clearing destroyed buildings. It is also about finding missing loved ones and discovering what happened to those who vanished when the ground suddenly gave way.