Even the dead aren't safe in Maracaibo, a sweltering, suffering city in Venezuela.
Thieves have broken into some of the vaults and coffins in El Cuadrado cemetery since late last year, stealing ornaments and sometimes items from corpses as the country sinks to new depths of deprivation.
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Even the dead aren't safe in Maracaibo, a sweltering, suffering city in Venezuela.
Much of Venezuela is in a state of decay and abandonment, brought on by shortages of things that people need the most: cash, food, water, medicine, power, gasoline. Chien
Maracaibo's mood today is less furious, more exhausted. Many who have the means leave, joining an exodus of more than 4 million Venezuelans who have left the country in recent years. The city in northwestern Venezuela is close to the border with Colombia, host to more than one-quarter of the migrants.
Guaidó visited Maracaibo, an opposition stronghold of 1.5 million people, in April. He was forced to take a boat across Lake Maracaibo to dodge police roadblocks and reach throngs of supporters waiting to hear him speak.
Gushing oil wells that helped make a nation with the world's largest oil reserves flush with cash have given way to broken-down oil platforms that sit idle as nearby shores are black with oozing crude.
Ferrer, the man in charge of El Cuadrado cemetery, took over the job from his father after he died, His father, in turn, had inherited the post from his father. The cemetery was founded nearly two centuries ago.
A vendor carries beef to a butcher shop at the flea market in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. He'll have to sell it quickly, since perishables go bad quickly without refrigeration in Maracaibo's suffocating temperatures. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Waiters stand behind the bar at the El Girasol restaurant overlooking overlooks Maracaibo Lake where an oil taker navigates, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 22, 2019. El Girasol used to be a revolving restaurant, and hardly has any customers. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
People greet their loved ones boarding a plane at the airport in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 25, 2019. Maracaibo is close to the border with Colombia, host to more than one-quarter of Venezuelan migrants. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A woman fills a bucket with drinking water from firefighters during water shortages linked to lack of electricity in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 14, 2019. The opposition blames Venezuela's misery on misguided economic policies, mismanagement and corruption by the socialist administration installed by the late Hugo Chavez. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A man searches the trash outside a flea market in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 14, 2019. As the political standoff drags on, so does life in Maracaibo, where some people sift through trash and scavenge for food. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Natasha Merchan puts makes up on her friend Maria Margarita Urdaneta at the airport's food court in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 19, 2019. "Nobody can put on makeup in the dark," said Maria as she explained her home is without like due to constant blackouts. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A man takes a nap in the back of a car in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Maracaibo's mood today is exhausted, due to the shortages of things that people need the most: cash, food, water, medicine, power, gasoline. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Entryways into the Brisas del Norte hotel are bricked up to keep people from squatting on the property, after it was looted two months prior in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Residents, seemingly driven to desperation by nationwide power blackouts, looted and destroyed hundreds of buildings and businesses in March. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
People sleep outside their homes for fresh air while air conditioning is not working during a blackout in the sweltering city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Some of the most acute misery plays out every day on the streets of Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city and a hub of the once-booming oil industry. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Residents, young and old, push drinkable water home in the Villa Esperanza neighborhood on the outskirts of Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Much of Venezuela is in a state of decay and abandonment, brought on by shortages of things that people need the most: cash, food, water, medicine, power, gasoline. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A floor of the Brisas del Norte hotel shows the aftermath of looting in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. Authorities blamed criminals for the rampage, which was of a kind that didn't happen elsewhere in Venezuela and only quickened the city's descent. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Children play with their toy car in Villa Esperanza neighborhood on the outskirts of Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Amid shortages of cash, food, water, medicine, power and gasoline, there are signs of people carrying on, finding a way forward. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A theme-pool lays in ruins at an abandoned amusement park coined "Diversions Grano de Oro" in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 23, 2019. Many structures in Maracaibo are littered with debris and reminiscent of wartime or the aftermath of a natural disaster. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A man plays the piano as a couple dances in El Girasol restaurant in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 22, 2019. Amid shortages of cash, food, water, medicine, power and gasoline, there are signs of people carrying on, finding a way forward. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Looted coffins lay in a pile after grave robbers moved through El Cuadrado cemetery in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. Daily burials used to happen until late afternoon, but the cemetery has tightened up on security, only holding burials until noon to deter grave robbers. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
In this May 14, 2019 photo, Raul Navas, 25, bathes in Maracaibo Lake after a day of work a the flea market in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who visited this opposition stronghold of 1.5 million people, in April, was forced to take a boat to dodge police and reach supporters waiting to hear him speak. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
"Starting eight months ago, they even took the gold teeth of the dead," said José Antonio Ferrer, who is in charge of the cemetery, where a prominent doctor, a university director and other local luminaries are buried.
A roller coaster stands tall in the abandoned amusement park coined "Diversions Grano de Oro" in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 23, 2019. Much of Venezuela is in a state of decay and abandonment, brought on by shortages of things that people need the most: cash, food, water, medicine, power, gasoline. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Much of Venezuela is in a state of decay and abandonment, brought on by shortages of things that people need the most: cash, food, water, medicine, power, gasoline. Chien
Some of the most acute misery plays out every day on the streets of Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city and a hub of the once-booming oil industry. It was here in March that residents, seemingly driven to desperation by nationwide power blackouts, looted and destroyed hundreds of buildings and businesses. Authorities blamed criminals for the rampage, which was of a kind that didn't happen elsewhere in Venezuela and only quickened the city's descent.
The destruction in Maracaibo, where blackouts were the norm long before March, defied easy understanding. The fittings of a hotel were torn out or just torn to shreds, leaving the structure littered with debris in an image reminiscent of wartime or the aftermath of a natural disaster.
A flea market vendor counts his Bolivar bills in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. Maracaibo is Venezuela's second-largest city and a hub of the once-booming oil industry. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Maracaibo's mood today is less furious, more exhausted. Many who have the means leave, joining an exodus of more than 4 million Venezuelans who have left the country in recent years. The city in northwestern Venezuela is close to the border with Colombia, host to more than one-quarter of the migrants.
The opposition blames Venezuela's misery on misguided economic policies, mismanagement and corruption by the socialist administration installed by the late Hugo Chavez. President Nicolás Maduro, like Chavez, says the troubles are the result of what he calls an economic war being waged on the country by the United States, which along with about four dozen other nations contends that Maduro's re-election last year was not legitimate because many strong opposition candidates couldn't run.
As in other cities, weary drivers nap on top of cars as they wait for scarce gasoline in long lines at service stations. "Operación Libertad" (Freedom Operation) was scrawled in white on the back window of one taxi, a reference to opposition leader Juan Guaidó's campaign to topple Maduro.
Spanish graffiti declares: I met love at the road blocks. Jeancarlo," referring to roadblocks set up by anti-government protesters demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro, in downtown Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. President Nicolás Maduro, like Chavez, says the troubles are the result of what he calls an economic war being waged on the country by the United States, which along with about four dozen other nations contends that Maduro's re-election last year was not legitimate because many strong opposition candidates couldn't run. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Guaidó visited Maracaibo, an opposition stronghold of 1.5 million people, in April. He was forced to take a boat across Lake Maracaibo to dodge police roadblocks and reach throngs of supporters waiting to hear him speak.
As the political standoff drags on, so does life in Maracaibo.
Some people sift through trash, scavenge for food or hastily fill up buckets when a water truck makes a neighborhood stop. A fisherman makes a catch. A vendor in a market hauls a side of meat — he'll have to sell it quickly, since perishables go bad quickly without refrigeration in Maracaibo's suffocating temperatures.
A man sleeps on top of his car as he waits in line to fill up outside a gas station in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 23, 2019. In cities across the country, weary drivers wait for scarce gasoline in long lines at service stations. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Gushing oil wells that helped make a nation with the world's largest oil reserves flush with cash have given way to broken-down oil platforms that sit idle as nearby shores are black with oozing crude.
There are vestiges of better days or signs of people carrying on, finding a way forward. Waiters in jackets and ties tend the counter in what used to be a revolving restaurant on the waterfront, even if there are hardly any customers. Boys in the street laugh as they play with a toy car. People move supplies on wheelbarrows.
At a shuttered amusement park, the rusty frame of a rollercoaster sits in isolation.
A journalist is reflected in a window at Panorama newspaper in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. Panorama, which was established in 1914, published a"See you Soon" headline to announce its last print edition, due to lack of newsprint. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Ferrer, the man in charge of El Cuadrado cemetery, took over the job from his father after he died, His father, in turn, had inherited the post from his father. The cemetery was founded nearly two centuries ago.
Daily burials used to happen until late afternoon, Ferrer said. But the cemetery now has tightened up on security, only holding burials until noon to deter grave robbers.
Associated Press journalist Sheyla Urdaneta contributed to this report
A deteriorated home sits abandoned in Villa Esperanza neighborhood on the outskirts of Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Maracaibo's mood is exhausted and many who had the means to leave have joined an exodus of more than 4 million Venezuelans who have left the country in recent years. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A vendor carries beef to a butcher shop at the flea market in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. He'll have to sell it quickly, since perishables go bad quickly without refrigeration in Maracaibo's suffocating temperatures. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Waiters stand behind the bar at the El Girasol restaurant overlooking overlooks Maracaibo Lake where an oil taker navigates, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 22, 2019. El Girasol used to be a revolving restaurant, and hardly has any customers. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
People greet their loved ones boarding a plane at the airport in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 25, 2019. Maracaibo is close to the border with Colombia, host to more than one-quarter of Venezuelan migrants. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A woman fills a bucket with drinking water from firefighters during water shortages linked to lack of electricity in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 14, 2019. The opposition blames Venezuela's misery on misguided economic policies, mismanagement and corruption by the socialist administration installed by the late Hugo Chavez. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A man searches the trash outside a flea market in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 14, 2019. As the political standoff drags on, so does life in Maracaibo, where some people sift through trash and scavenge for food. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Natasha Merchan puts makes up on her friend Maria Margarita Urdaneta at the airport's food court in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 19, 2019. "Nobody can put on makeup in the dark," said Maria as she explained her home is without like due to constant blackouts. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A man takes a nap in the back of a car in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Maracaibo's mood today is exhausted, due to the shortages of things that people need the most: cash, food, water, medicine, power, gasoline. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Entryways into the Brisas del Norte hotel are bricked up to keep people from squatting on the property, after it was looted two months prior in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Residents, seemingly driven to desperation by nationwide power blackouts, looted and destroyed hundreds of buildings and businesses in March. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
People sleep outside their homes for fresh air while air conditioning is not working during a blackout in the sweltering city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Some of the most acute misery plays out every day on the streets of Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city and a hub of the once-booming oil industry. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Residents, young and old, push drinkable water home in the Villa Esperanza neighborhood on the outskirts of Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Much of Venezuela is in a state of decay and abandonment, brought on by shortages of things that people need the most: cash, food, water, medicine, power, gasoline. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A floor of the Brisas del Norte hotel shows the aftermath of looting in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. Authorities blamed criminals for the rampage, which was of a kind that didn't happen elsewhere in Venezuela and only quickened the city's descent. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Children play with their toy car in Villa Esperanza neighborhood on the outskirts of Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 15, 2019. Amid shortages of cash, food, water, medicine, power and gasoline, there are signs of people carrying on, finding a way forward. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A theme-pool lays in ruins at an abandoned amusement park coined "Diversions Grano de Oro" in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 23, 2019. Many structures in Maracaibo are littered with debris and reminiscent of wartime or the aftermath of a natural disaster. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
A man plays the piano as a couple dances in El Girasol restaurant in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 22, 2019. Amid shortages of cash, food, water, medicine, power and gasoline, there are signs of people carrying on, finding a way forward. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
Looted coffins lay in a pile after grave robbers moved through El Cuadrado cemetery in Maracaibo, Venezuela, May 16, 2019. Daily burials used to happen until late afternoon, but the cemetery has tightened up on security, only holding burials until noon to deter grave robbers. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)
In this May 14, 2019 photo, Raul Navas, 25, bathes in Maracaibo Lake after a day of work a the flea market in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who visited this opposition stronghold of 1.5 million people, in April, was forced to take a boat to dodge police and reach supporters waiting to hear him speak. (AP PhotoRodrigo Abd)