The Bishop of the Canaries, José Mazuelos, officiated a mass at Santa Ana Cathedral in memory of those who died in the earthquakes in Venezuela, with the attendance of authorities and hundreds of citizens from the Venezuelan community.
Santa Ana Cathedral, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, became a meeting point of solidarity this Wednesday. The Bishop of the Canaries, José Mazuelos, presided over a mass in remembrance of the more than 3,600 fatalities from the earthquakes that struck Venezuela two weeks ago. The event was attended by the mayor of the capital, Carolina Darias; the president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales; and the government delegate in the Canaries, Anselmo Pestana, along with representatives of the accredited consular corps in the archipelago.
A community dedicated to Venezuela
The Venezuelan community residing in the islands responded en masse. Hundreds of people, many of whom have family in the South American country, filled the pews of the cathedral. Canarians with family or emotional ties to Venezuela also attended, demonstrating the close connection between the two territories.
During the homily, Mazuelos recalled the tragedy and prayed for the swift recovery of the affected. The official death toll stands at 3,685, according to the latest report from the Venezuelan government, while the injured exceed 16,700. No updated data on the missing has been provided.
Temporary camps and the situation on the ground
The Venezuelan Minister of Education, Héctor Rodríguez, reported that 16,686 people remain housed in 87 temporary camps set up after the double earthquake. The installed capacity is 22,477 places, a figure that has been increasing in recent days. The most affected state, La Guaira, in the north of the country, houses 10,469 people in 26 camps, six of which are in the process of expansion.
In the capital, Caracas, there are 5,046 people in 39 camps, while in the nearby state of Miranda, 1,171 people are staying in 22 camps. Authorities continue with rescue and humanitarian assistance efforts.
The local angle: solidarity from the Canaries
For those attending, the mass represented a gesture of closeness to a country that has suffered a catastrophe of enormous proportions. Many present have direct relatives in the affected areas and appreciated the institutional and citizen support. Mayor Darias highlighted the importance of keeping the memory alive and humanitarian aid. The Cabildo of Gran Canaria has announced that it is exploring new avenues of collaboration with Venezuelan authorities to channel aid.
The Canaries, a historic bridge to America, once again show their most supportive face. The Venezuelan community in the islands, one of the largest, expressed gratitude for the support during such a difficult time. Those who could not attend the cathedral followed the ceremony through social media, where messages of support have multiplied.
The mass concluded with a minute of silence and the performance of a traditional Venezuelan song. Attendees placed white flowers at an improvised altar next to the main altar. Next week, an interfaith event will be held at the same location, as confirmed by sources from the Bishopric of the Canaries.
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