Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 235

Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 235

Health Minister Carlos Alvarado announced Thursday that the death toll from twin massive earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to around 235. The official stated that 4,300 injured people have been attended to as of 7pm that day, with many requiring surgical interventions.

The disaster began at approximately 6pm local time on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. According to the US Geological Survey, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake first struck west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 105 miles west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit with an epicentre 10 miles south-west of Moron. This second tremor was the strongest to hit the country since 1900, when a 7.7-magnitude quake occurred.

The impacts were felt as far away as Brazil’s Amazon. In Caracas, residents described buildings shaking from side to side, while others fled into the streets as three-storey buildings collapsed in outskirts like El Junquito.

Devastation in La Guaira

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has described La Guaira, a coastal region north of Caracas home to around 380,000 people, as a disaster zone. The area is among the hardest hit, with buildings tilting or collapsing entirely. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez noted that 250 buildings have been damaged or lost, mostly in this region.

The country’s main airport is there and was closed due to damage, complicating aid efforts. Rescue teams are currently using power tools to penetrate rubble in a race to find survivors. Acting President Rodriguez stated that rescue teams from other parts of the country are being shifted to La Guaira to maximize daylight hours for search operations.

Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement

Fear of further collapses has driven residents to sleep in public squares, parks, and on pavements. One resident of the Santa Rosalia parish in central Caracas told the BBC he spent the night on the street after his home was badly damaged. Other residents reported being too cold to sleep, terrified that their homes were no longer structurally sound.

The scale of the missing is starkly contested by official and unofficial reports. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez cited 157 people missing, but an unofficial website has reported nearly 40,000 missing persons. Other reports indicate at least 26,000 missing. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released $2.5 million for recovery.

Oxfam warned that these earthquakes could worsen a severe humanitarian crisis, noting that 7.9 million people in Venezuela needed assistance in early 2026. Tom Fletcher of the UN humanitarian agency echoed this, stating the disaster risks deepening existing vulnerabilities.

International Response

The United States is providing $150 million in aid and has waived certain sanctions until 23 October to facilitate relief transactions. US Southern Command is surging forces in the region, deploying the USS Fort Lauderdale, the USS Billings, transport aircraft, and helicopters. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deployment of search and rescue teams from Los Angeles and Fairfax County, Virginia. Major General Kevin Jarrard will oversee the Pentagon's efforts.

Other international contributions include:

• France is sending 85 specialists, Spain is providing 54 army rescuers, and the Netherlands has pledged 2 million euros for equipment and search dogs. Switzerland is sending 80 personnel and 18 tonnes of equipment.
• Brazil is dispatching a field hospital and 36 firefighters. Colombia is sending 12 tons of aid and over 60 rescuers. Mexico is deploying a military team of rescuers and medical personnel.
• The Vatican, via Pope Leo XIV, sent an initial 100,000 euros in emergency aid. Germany promised six military transport planes, and Qatar has sent rescuers.

Political Context

The disaster is the first major test for Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who took office in January after President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilla Flores, were captured in a US military raid. Maduro had previously been indicted on terrorism and drug charges in New York in 2020.

International casualties have also been confirmed. Brazil reports two citizen deaths, while Italy confirmed the death of a dual Italian-Venezuelan national in La Guaira. Portugal confirmed one death, and China reported two nationals killed.