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.
