Venezuela is facing one of the worst natural disasters in recent years, following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country’s Caribbean coast just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday, June 24. Authorities have confirmed a preliminary death toll of 32 and more than 700 injured, while search and rescue efforts continue in the hardest-hit areas.
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, declared a state of emergency and stated that the earthquakes, measuring 7.5 and 7.2 on the Richter scale, caused extensive property damage, particularly in the state of La Guaira, where dozens of buildings collapsed.
La Guaira, the hardest-hit area
New footage shows the devastation in La Guaira, Venezuela, caused by powerful earthquakes. pic.twitter.com/9jr4B6n1RG
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) June 25, 2026
During a message broadcast on state television, Rodríguez described the situation in La Guaira as “a true tragedy” and confirmed that the coastal state has officially been declared a disaster area.
In addition to the collapsed buildings, critical infrastructure was also damaged.
Maiquetía International Airport, the main airport serving Caracas, was closed due to structural damage caused by the earthquakes.
Venezuelan authorities said assessments are continuing to determine the true extent of the destruction, while rescue teams are working through the rubble in search of survivors.
State of Emergency Declared in Venezuela Following Earthquake
🚨 Delcy Rodríguez provides a new official update on the earthquake in Venezuela:
– 32 deaths (not yet including the full figures from La Guaira state)
– More than 700 injured (this figure also does not include the final tally from La Guaira)
– La Guaira is, so far, the most devastated area and… pic.twitter.com/hyAHQ033O9— Bárbara Uzcátegui Sanz (@BarbaraUSanz) June 25, 2026
Following the earthquakes, the Venezuelan government ordered the mobilization of the entire public and private healthcare network to treat the hundreds of injured people.
In addition, classes were suspended for the following days, along with non-essential activities, while basic services are being restored in the affected areas.
Authorities also reported power outages, disruptions to the drinking water supply, preventive shutoffs of household gas, and the temporary suspension of the Metro and the rail system.
International rescue workers will assist with the efforts
WATCH: A 7.1-magnitude earthquake destroys an apartment building in Caracas, Venezuela. The number of casualties is unknown. pic.twitter.com/eTVroUH5St
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) June 24, 2026
Rodríguez reported that specialized teams from the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Qatar, and the Dominican Republic will participate in search and rescue operations over the next few hours.
International cooperation aims to speed up the search for people trapped in collapsed buildings and to support medical care for the injured.
According to the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center, the two quakes constituted a “seismic double,” a rare phenomenon in which two large-magnitude earthquakes occur almost consecutively in the same region.
Although a tsunami warning was initially issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it was canceled hours later after the risk to those areas was ruled out.
As emergency response efforts continue, authorities warn that the number of victims could rise as rescue operations progress and access is gained to the hardest-hit areas.
Filed under: Earthquake in Venezuela