– Caracas, Venezuela
Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026. A foreshock of magnitude 7.2 was recorded at 6:04 p.m. local time near San Felipe, in Yaracuy state, followed 39 seconds later by a main quake of magnitude 7.5, the strongest in more than a century. Both earthquakes occurred along the San Sebastián Fault, causing intense shaking that lasted up to two minutes and reached a violent intensity. The events caused widespread damage in Caracas, La Guaira, Carabobo, Aragua, and other northern states, with more than 30 aftershocks recorded since then.
As of June 27, the official death toll stood at 1,430, according to the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez. More than 3,238 people were injured, thousands remain missing, and more than 55,000 are unaccounted for. La Guaira was the hardest-hit city, with more than 250 buildings collapsed, entire neighborhoods razed, and the Simón Bolívar International Airport severely damaged. In Caracas, dozens of structures, including skyscrapers, were destroyed or damaged. The United Nations estimates that the economic damage could reach between 4 and 8 percent of Venezuela's GDP.
Rescue operations continue under increasing pressure as the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors narrows. More than 1,600 international rescuers from over a dozen countries, including the United States, Mexico, Chile, and others, have arrived to support local teams. Challenges include roads blocked by debris, damaged infrastructure, aftershocks, and overwhelmed hospitals and morgues. Civilian volunteers have stepped in to fill the gaps in emergency services.
The government has deployed thousands of security personnel, declared a state of emergency, distributed aid and begun restoring power to the affected areas, while international assistance continues to arrive.