In the Venezuela earthquake disaster, McDonald's and bus terminal turn into field health centers

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude aftershocks in La Guaira state, Venezuela, have caused the region's health infrastructure to completely collapse. In the disaster zone where thousands of people are rushing for aid, unusual places have been turned into temporary health centers due to the inadequacy of local officials. A McDonald's restaurant in the Caraballeda region, known as Okmeydanı, hosts a vital field hospital. Volunteers from the medical world and healthcare workers doing their best have made this place suitable for use as triage, pharmacy, and storage areas. In areas where emergency services are needed, the counters serving hamburgers have now been replaced by arepa and sandwiches provided by donors. The ice cream section was even converted into a shelter for rescued animals, displaying an example of solidarity going beyond the humanitarian dimension of the disaster.

The severity of the situation in the region is revealed even more clearly by news from the temporary health center set up at the Catia La Mar bus terminal. About 4,000 patients have been treated here, but this number continues to increase every hour. 13-year-old Iverson Medina is just one of the survivors rescued after spending 16 hours under the rubble. Young Medina, who thought he wouldn't be saved until he saw the firefighters, unfortunately witnessed the loss of his grandmother and a cousin. Initial interventions are performed in tents set up at the bus terminal with medical equipment provided through special donations. Doctors like Maria Jose Pino describe the gravity of the situation with the words, "there are dead bodies in the streets, the morgue cannot handle this load".

In addition to the physical destruction caused by the earthquake, the threat of epidemics has also begun to become a serious source of concern in the region. More than 150 buildings in La Guaira state were completely destroyed, and thousands of people were left homeless. The United Nations (UN) draws attention to the risk of infectious diseases spreading rapidly due to this crowding and inadequate hygiene conditions. In recent days, a marked increase has been observed in the number of patients applying with complaints such as diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Healthcare workers are on high alert, especially regarding the possibility of infections spreading in poor conditions and crowded shelters. Doctor Antonio Olaizola states that the infectious processes caused by the incident have already begun and that crowding is a critical factor for such diseases. While the lack of medical equipment and insufficient relief supplies demoralize doctors, they continue their work without interruption. Volunteer surgeon Karlys Figueroa is caring for dozens of patients suffering from hypertension crises, anxiety attacks, and digestive issues, not alone but with over 30 colleagues.

People fighting for life at the center of the disaster face a scene where streets face death. According to official figures, the death toll has surpassed 2,600 and the number of injured has reached 12,600. Healthcare workers like Maria Jose Pino put aside the phones that saved their own lives and immediately began helping the earthquake victims. Even though they do their best, the feeling that "what has been done is insufficient" and that there is not enough helping hand prevails. In this context, the dedicated work of civilians and volunteers continues to be a glimmer of hope at times when state mechanisms prove inadequate.