Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast on June 24, killing at least 1,450 people, injuring 3,150, and leaving more than 68,900 unaccounted for. The first quake measured Mw 7.2; a Mw 7.5 mainshock followed 39 seconds later — the strongest to hit Venezuela since the 1900 San Narciso earthquake. The hardest-hit area was La Guaira state, north of Caracas, where more than 1,400 buildings collapsed and Simón Bolívar International Airport sustained structural damage, halting all flights.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency and initiated a request for $200 million from the International Monetary Fund. She warned the confirmed death toll had not yet incorporated La Guaira’s full count, which she described as a “disaster zone.”
The 72-hour survival window closed Saturday. By Sunday, 2,624 rescue workers and 137 search dogs from nations worldwide were still working the rubble. An 11-month-old infant was pulled alive four days after the quake. U.S. Marines with Littoral Combat Force-24 and sailors from the USS Fort Lauderdale delivered disaster assistance supplies at La Guaira Port on June 27. Urban search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County are also deployed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated search and rescue remains the U.S. priority.
A magnitude 4.7 aftershock on June 26 collapsed a bridge connecting the parish of Caraballeda to the rest of La Guaira, disrupting relief corridors. Power restoration in La Guaira reached approximately 75 percent by Sunday; water service stood at 68 percent.
Venezuela’s government media restrictions complicated early reporting. More than 200 websites — including social media platforms and international news outlets — were blocked in the immediate aftermath. The United Nations urged Venezuelan authorities to restore full media access, stating that communication channels were vital to public safety. The Venezuelan government partially lifted the ban on X.
Volunteers from cities across the country arrived at collapse sites carrying hand tools and shovels where heavy equipment was absent. Dozens of countries in the Americas and beyond have pledged aid, medical supplies, and personnel.
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