The emergency caused by the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela continues to worsen. While authorities maintain a preliminary official death toll of 32 and more than 700 injured, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued an assessment warning that the human toll could be much higher as search and rescue efforts continue.
The U.S. agency, known for monitoring seismic activity worldwide, used its automated loss assessment system (PAGER) to estimate various scenarios based on earthquake magnitude, population density, and the vulnerability of the affected buildings.
The USGS Warns Thousands Dead in Venezuela
🚨 TRAGEDY: The USGS estimates more than 10,000 deaths following the earthquakes in Venezuela.
The U.S. Geological Survey has issued a red alert and estimates that the death toll from the 7.5-magnitude earthquake could exceed 10,000.
Rescue teams are racing against time amid the rubble in Caracas. O… pic.twitter.com/WMhTmdYroY
— Diego Mello (@hdiegorj) June 25, 2026
According to the USGS’s preliminary report, there is a 42% probability that the final death toll will fall between 10,000 and 100,000 people.
The agency also estimates a 33% chance that the death toll will be between 1,000 and 10,000, while there is a 17% probability that the number of victims will exceed 100,000.
Experts clarify that these figures do not represent an official count, but rather a statistical projection based on scientific models that take multiple factors into account.
These factors include the intensity of the earthquake, the exposed population, and the strength of the buildings.
Vulnerable buildings increase the risk
#VENEZUELA DEVASTATED.
Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck 39 seconds apart. Buildings flattened. Airport closed. State of emergency declared. USGS warns that 10,000–100,000 are feared dead. Rescuers are digging through the rubble. These are the strongest quakes in over a century. 🇻🇪#CARACAS pic.twitter.com/stehU03TGx— Rizwan Ashraffi (@rizwanace) June 25, 2026
The USGS explained that a large portion of the Venezuelan population lives in buildings that are highly vulnerable to seismic activity.
According to the agency, most buildings are constructed of unreinforced brick masonry and adobe blocks, materials that tend to pose a greater risk of collapse during large-magnitude earthquakes.
For this reason, the report warns that the disaster could require a large-scale national and international humanitarian response, as has been the case in other events classified as red alerts by the U.S. Geological Survey itself.
La Guaira has suffered the most destruction
🇻🇪🚨| URGENT: The Edwards Hotel in La Guaira has collapsed; family members of several of our baseball players—including Eliezer Alfonzo and Gorkys Hernández, among others—have died. The voice in the audio recording is that of the manager of the Guerreros de Lara. pic.twitter.com/5XrhDxoHA0
— Eduardo Menoni (@eduardomenoni) June 25, 2026
Venezuelan authorities reported that the state of La Guaira, located in the north of the country, is the region most affected by the two earthquakes, measuring 7.5 and 7.2 on the Richter scale, which occurred just 39 seconds apart.
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, described the situation as “a true tragedy” and confirmed that dozens of buildings have collapsed, in addition to severe damage to infrastructure, public services, and transportation routes.
The government is maintaining the state of emergency, has mobilized the entire hospital network, and continues to coordinate rescue efforts with the support of international teams.
They also anticipate a significant economic impact
BREAKING: USGS upgrades Venezuela earthquake to 7.5
The first video shows panic at the airport during the earthquake.
Second video from Caracas showing extensive damage caused by a collapsed building. pic.twitter.com/pf2hLRXwIb
— World Source News (@Worldsource24) June 24, 2026
In addition to the human cost, the USGS estimates that the economic losses caused by earthquakes could amount to between 1% and 7% of Venezuela’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
As rescue operations and damage assessments continue, authorities warn that the official death toll could rise in the coming hours as access to the hardest-hit areas is gained.
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