A Mother's Desperate Journey: 9 Hours to Find a Daughter
Maracaibo, Venezuela — Nubia Gómez, a 60-year-old mother, drove for nine hours through the night, her fear mounting with every mile. She was heading to Caracas after failing to reach her daughter following two powerful earthquakes that struck the region the previous day.
The quakes triggered a building collapse in the capital. While rescue operations are currently underway, they are now being joined by desperate family members of the missing.
"I'm devastated, but [have] hope …"
Gómez’s dread began when she saw a video on Instagram showing a collapsed building. Her daughter lived in the area, and the sight sent a chill through her. Her immediate concern turned to panic when every call and text went unanswered.
"I texted my daughter to ask if she had felt the earthquake and if she was OK. And she never answered me on her cell phone."
With no other way to confirm her daughter's safety, Gómez got behind the wheel and made the long journey from Maracaibo to the capital. She is now on the ground, joining other families waiting for news as rescue teams search the rubble.