Skarlent Rodríguez, a Venezuelan model crowned Miss Grand Orlando 2025, was found dead in Venezuela after the powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, 2026. Her partner, José Castro, was also found dead beside her after several days of searching.
The couple had disappeared in the Catia La Mar region of La Guaira state, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster. They were in their apartment when the building collapsed due to the tremors. Their bodies were recovered on June 29, after several days of operations in the rubble.
Trapped under the rubble
The search mobilized rescue teams, relatives, and volunteers. The family confirmed that Skarlent Rodríguez and José Castro had been found together, having been buried under the rubble of the building where they lived. A fundraising campaign was subsequently launched to help the families cover the costs associated with the search, repatriation, and funerals.
Skarlent Rodríguez was well-known in the Florida beauty pageant community. She had won the title of Miss Grand Orlando 2025 and represented the city in the Miss Grand Florida circuit. Miss Grand Florida and Miss Grand International paid tribute to her after the announcement of her death.
Two earthquakes in less than a minute
Venezuela was struck on June 24 by two violent earthquakes: a first earthquake of magnitude 7,2, followed 39 seconds later by a stronger tremor of magnitude 7,5. The tremors caused collapses in Caracas and in coastal areas near La Guaira.
The initial figures quickly changed as the excavations progressed. By June 30, authorities reported more than 1,900 dead and more than 10,000 injured, with the number of victims still likely to increase as bodies are recovered from the ruins.
La Guaira at the heart of the drama
La Guaira, located north of Caracas, is the epicenter of the human and material damage. Residential buildings have collapsed, entire families have been displaced, and thousands of people are still sleeping in makeshift shelters or in the open. Nearly 59,000 buildings are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes, while hundreds of thousands of children are in need of humanitarian aid.
The deaths of Skarlent Rodríguez and José Castro compound the ongoing national disaster. Rescue operations continue in several areas, including the search for survivors, the identification of victims, and the provision of assistance to those affected.
