McDonald's turned into a hospital: Improvisation and neglect mark the first week of Venezuela's earthquake tragedy

McDonald's turned into a hospital: Improvisation and neglect mark the first week of Venezuela's earthquake tragedy describes how volunteer medical teams and a makeshift setup have been operating in La Guaira after a major earthquake. The article recounts emergency surgery performed by Dr. Romero, including the removal of retained placental tissue in extreme conditions above 40°C (104°F), in the dark and using a McDonald's stool as an operating surface. One week after the disaster at the epicenter, the death toll surpassed 1,900 and more than 10,000 people were injured, while hope for survivors under rubble is shrinking. Venezuela’s government reported that 855 buildings were affected, with 189 experiencing total collapse, and said 50 camps have been set up around the capital and eight improvised morgues created. At La Guaira’s port, hundreds of bodies await identification. The UN Refugee Agency reported a dramatic surge in humanitarian and protection needs, including severe food shortages and risks for displaced people.