At least 164 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 1,000 others injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, leaving a trail of destruction across the South American nation.
The twin quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck less than a minute apart on Wednesday, causing buildings to collapse, damaging critical infrastructure and displacing thousands of residents across several regions.
Rescue teams continued searching through debris on Thursday amid fears that the death toll could rise further as emergency workers reach heavily affected communities and uncover more victims.
The capital, Caracas, and the coastal state of La Guaira were among the worst-hit areas, with widespread reports of collapsed structures, power outages, damaged roads and disrupted communications.
Authorities said hospitals were treating hundreds of injured victims, while temporary shelters had been established for families forced to flee their homes.
The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency following the disaster and appealed for international assistance as relief efforts intensified. Several countries and humanitarian organisations have pledged support, including rescue personnel, medical supplies and emergency aid.
Officials have urged residents to remain vigilant as aftershocks continue to rattle parts of the country, raising concerns about further damage to weakened buildings and complicating rescue operations.
The disaster is one of Venezuela’s deadliest earthquakes in recent years and has prompted renewed scrutiny of the country’s disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
Search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities work to determine the full scale of the catastrophe and account for those still missing.
