Many parents in La Guaira kept their children home on the first day of classes after the catastrophic June 24 earthquakes, leaving schools largely empty.
The quakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, reportedly killed more than 6,500 people; dozens of schools were damaged and 60 have been converted into shelters for the displaced.
School leaders plan a gradual, safety-focused return that prioritizes emotional recovery amid hundreds of aftershocks.
Schools across La Guaira, a coastal state of Venezuela still reeling from the devastating June 24 earthquakes, stood largely empty on the first day of the new school year as many parents kept children at home fearing further deadly tremors.
La Guaira — home to a popular resort about 40 kilometers from Caracas — was hit by powerful consecutive quakes measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, which authorities say killed more than 6,500 people. Dozens of schools were damaged and hundreds of buildings were reduced to rubble. An additional 60 schools have been repurposed as temporary shelters for thousands of people left homeless.
At the John Paul II Diocesan Educational Unit, one of the few schools operating in the port city, just over 300 students registered for the new year — but only seven children attended classes on Tuesday. The school can accommodate more than twice that number.
"The return to classes will be gradual and safe, focusing primarily on the emotional well-being not only of our students but also of our staff,"
said principal Marco Antonio Espinoza, acknowledging the fear generated by hundreds of aftershocks since the quakes.
Some parents, like 40-year-old industrial engineer Amni Nunez, chose to send their children back to school. "They need to understand that the world keeps spinning and that we have to learn to live with this new reality," Nunez said. Others remain too afraid to allow children inside buildings that may yet be at risk.
Fifth-grade teacher Yanet Dominguez said parents repeatedly asked about structural safety. "I told them yes — improvements were made to the building this year, and they shouldn't be afraid to send their children," she said. School leaders emphasize psychological support and a phased reopening to protect students and staff while recovery continues.
The situation remains fluid as communities cope with displacement, damage to infrastructure, and the ongoing challenge of restoring safe learning environments for children.
Reporting note: Information based on local school officials, teachers and parent accounts from La Guaira.
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