Boris Izaguirre, a well-known writer and television personality, gave a candid, emotional interview on “El perro andaluz” about the personal cost of leaving Venezuela and the turmoil still gripping his homeland. In a conversation led by Manu Sánchez, light-hearted banter gave way to the weight of exile as Izaguirre described the persistent guilt he feels about leaving his country years ago. He spoke openly about the pain of watching Venezuela suffer from afar, especially after the June 24, 2026, twin earthquakes, reported at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, and the difficulty of trusting official information under a dictatorship. Venezuela’s later official figures put the death toll at 6,509, with nearly 18,000 people affected. Authorities also reported 856 damaged buildings, 190 of them collapsed.
Izaguirre’s reflections on Venezuela carried both sorrow and hope. He noted how hard it is to verify casualty numbers in a country where transparency is lacking, and shared his father’s optimism that international aid could finally bring real recovery. The official toll was far below a probabilistic estimate reported by The New York Times: the U.S. Geological Survey’s median estimate was about 53,000 deaths, with an 81% probability that the actual toll exceeded 10,000. That was not an official revised count. It was a statistical assessment based on satellite imagery and housing records. Figures shifted during the response. On June 28, India’s Operation Amistad delivered a field hospital unit, along with medicines, medical equipment and relief supplies. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez had earlier cited 2,295 deaths and 11,267 injuries. The interview also touched on anxiety over foreign interventions, including the episode involving Donald Trump, which Izaguirre said left him deeply unsettled. Despite his guilt, he emphasized Venezuelans’ ability to recover and their ability to adapt and contribute to new societies. He also described his own efforts to encourage a sense of freedom and humor in Spain.
The humanitarian emergency continued long after the immediate rescue period. EFE reported that at least 20,000 people had lost their homes, and cited figures of 29,000 missing and more than 200,000 injured alongside the official death toll. Those figures appeared in reporting on the continuing crisis, not as a new official casualty update. On August 24, the last official fatality balance remained 6,509, while CNN reported that the government had not provided it with an official figure for missing people. Jesús “Txuo” Rodríguez Villarroel, director of Fundación Unidos en la Misión, said recovery had entered a “much longer and less visible phase.” Priorities included reopening damaged schools, restoring family livelihoods and providing psychological support. In October, Venevisión’s “Unidos por Venezuela” telethon raised $2,370,017 for relief. Donations were to be channelled through United Way Worldwide and its Venezuelan partner, Dividendo Voluntario para la Comunidad.
The discussion turned to Spanish politics, where Izaguirre offered sharp commentary on the evolution of social rights. He recalled the long struggle for marriage equality and criticized the Partido Popular for accepting the law only after a delay, suggesting that personal interests often lead political change. His assessment of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero focused on the former prime minister’s role in ending ETA violence and easing political tension. Izaguirre also noted the symbolic importance of legislative progress for the country’s renewal.
Humor ran through the interview, even as Izaguirre recounted the emotional burden of emigration. He described the lifelong question of whether leaving was the right choice, along with the feeling of having been born in the wrong place. Yet he also celebrated Spain’s welcoming nature, joking that he and Ivonne Reyes were the “Adán y Eva” of Venezuelan arrivals. The program offered lighter moments, including a playful confession about laundry mishaps and a nod to his husband Rubén, who now manages his wardrobe.
In a segment known for unexpected questions, Izaguirre responded with characteristic wit when asked what the UCO might find in his home: forgotten laundry and mismatched socks. The episode also featured María Galiana and showed off Izaguirre’s improvisational skills, reinforcing his reputation for blending humor with sincerity.
The challenges Venezuelan migrants face in Spain echo broader questions of integration and identity, themes that have surfaced in other recent news stories. The difficulty of trusting official communications during a crisis came into focus when a senior Valencian official admitted to receiving a critical weather alert via WhatsApp* (принадлежит Metа, которая признана экстремистской организацией и запрещена в РФ) during the Dana floods. The admission raised questions about emergency response and transparency. More details on that incident can be found in this report on the Valencia flood probe.
Spain has seen a impressive influx of Venezuelan migrants over the past decade, many of whom have faced similar dilemmas over belonging and responsibility. The country’s legal and social frameworks have evolved to accommodate new arrivals, yet displacement still carries a profound emotional cost for many. Izaguirre’s interview brings out migration’s personal dimension, showing how public figures grapple with private questions of loyalty and loss, as well as the demands of adapting to a new life.
