Death Toll Surpasses 1,400 in Venezuela Twin Earthquakes as Rescue Window Closes and Desperation Grows
At least 1,430 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 51,000 remain missing after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's coast on June 24, with rescuers warning the critical 72-hour survival window has nearly closed. More than 1,600 international rescue workers have arrived, but many families say help has come too late and too little.
Photo Source: Collected
CARABALLEDA, Venezuela: At least 1,430 people have been confirmed dead and more than 51,000 remain unaccounted for after twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela's northern coastal region on Wednesday, June 24, devastating the state of La Guaira and parts of the capital Caracas in one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country's modern history.
The death toll was confirmed on Saturday by Jorge Rodríguez, leader of Venezuela's National Assembly, who announced the updated figure on state television. More than 3,200 people have been injured.
Rescuers are racing against time as the critical 72-hour survival window, the period in which trapped victims are most likely to be found alive, has now passed. Nicole Kast, Venezuela director for the International Rescue Committee, warned rescuers were already in "the final hours of the search and rescue operations." "Venezuela was already in a situation of humanitarian need, with limited resources within their civil protection services," Kast said. "Even though international rescue teams are coming, there's still a significant gap, and many people will likely remain under the rubble."
How the Earthquakes Struck
On June 24, 2026, two large strike-slip earthquakes struck northwestern and central Venezuela in rapid succession. The epicentres of both earthquakes were near San Felipe, Yaracuy. The first earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.2, occurred at 6:04 PM local time and was later classified as a foreshock. It was followed just 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, the strongest earthquake to strike Venezuela since the 1900 San Narciso earthquake.
The earthquakes caused widespread destruction across the country, particularly in La Guaira and Caracas. Since June 24 is a national holiday in Venezuela, commemorating the 1821 Battle of Carabobo, many people were at home instead of at work when the quakes struck, which may have contributed to the high casualty count.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency as images emerged showing flattened buildings and collapsed roads in Caracas and surrounding areas. She also announced the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals, homes, and other infrastructure that collapsed.
Desperation in La Guaira
"There's a pile of bodies over there from last night. Newborn babies," said Mileidy Romero, who was among those searching in the seaside town of Caraballeda. "At 8 p.m. yesterday, there were people alive down there, and they haven't bothered to rescue them. We've located several bodies, and they haven't helped us recover them either. What are they waiting for?"
The scenes from La Guaira have been among the most harrowing. In the absence of hard hats, rescuers and civilians used motorcycle helmets as they searched through piles of debris. Some, frustrated by the government's response, blocked an excavator from leaving the site of a collapse and pulled the operator from its cabin shortly after state workers took selfies in front of flattened buildings and left without helping. A few feet away, at least five bodies lay wrapped in blankets.
Yonahí Regalado spent hours calling out the names of her sister and one-year-old nephew and godson from 1:00 AM until aid workers began to arrive. Mexican rescue teams climbed over collapsed buildings and pushed their heads into holes in the pancaked concrete to search for signs of life, shouting: "We're rescuers from the Mexican military. If there's anyone down there still alive, make noise or scream. Now!"
The Scale of Destruction
Dozens of buildings reportedly collapsed across Caracas, with the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira municipalities described as the worst-affected parts of the city. More than 25 homes were destroyed in Morón and Urama parishes, while buildings in Puerto Cabello were damaged. In Yaracuy state, directly at the epicentre, 13 homes were heavily damaged in San Felipe, and two buildings under construction collapsed in Cocorote.
The United Nations Development Programme estimated on Saturday that the direct physical damage of the earthquakes could cost between $4.7 billion and $8.7 billion. A further 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Aragua state on Saturday, though no major additional damage was reported.
Thirteen hospitals were damaged across the country. The high number of injured people began to overwhelm the Jose Maria Vargas Hospital, and some casualties had to be treated outdoors. Venezuela's acting president had ordered the entire hospital network, including both public and private facilities, to coordinate efforts to treat the injured.
Over 55,000 Unaccounted For
According to a missing persons tracking website, more than 50,000 people were unaccounted for, though this figure has not been confirmed by the government. Another independent database indicated that more than 11,200 people were missing in La Guaira alone. Casualty reports remained scarce, particularly in remote areas, believed to be due to disrupted communications or a possible media blackout in Venezuela.
The USGS has estimated that the final death toll could exceed 10,000, and its predictive modelling placed a 43% probability of between 10,000 and 100,000 deaths.
International Response
Venezuelan officials confirmed that 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue team members from multiple countries had landed by Saturday. At least 30 search teams from various countries were combing through the rubble, according to the United Nations. A damaged runway at Simón Bolívar International Airport was repaired by US military personnel, allowing aid deliveries to be scaled up.
The United States deployed two of its most accomplished urban search and rescue teams, from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County. Mexico deployed rescuers and health personnel. Spain, Qatar, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic also sent teams.
In addition to $150 million already committed by the Trump administration, a senior US official said a further nine-figure funding package was expected to be announced within the coming days. A US Navy transport ship was docked off the coast, ready to receive airlifted survivors in need of medical treatment.
A Disaster on Top of a Crisis
The disaster comes at a dire time for Venezuela, which was already mired in political and financial crisis. Doctors say chronic underfunding left the healthcare system unequipped to treat the surge of patients. Venezuela's electricity grid, weakened by years of underinvestment and economic sanctions, has long struggled with reliability.
Venezuela has one of the most restricted media landscapes in the world, which has made it difficult for residents and concerned loved ones abroad to obtain accurate information. More than 200 websites in the country are blocked, including local and international news outlets, social media sites and censorship circumvention tools.
In Rome, Pope Leo offered prayers for the victims, their families and rescue workers, expressing hope that international solidarity with Venezuela would endure.
"People are still terrified to re-enter what were their homes," said Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross regional director for the Americas. "It is already clear that displacement will increase as people seek safety. A swift response is essential."
Al Jazeera's correspondent reporting from Chacao, one of the hardest hit areas in Caracas, said hope of finding survivors had dwindled. "The chances of finding survivors at this point, according to the rescuers, are nearly zero," she said.
For the families still waiting, still calling out names into the rubble, those words are unbearable. They continue to search anyway.