Rescue teams and international aid workers continue relief operations as aftershocks and widespread destruction complicate recovery efforts across northern Venezuela.
Venezuela is facing one of the worst natural disasters in its modern history after the death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes rose to 2,645, with 12,666 people injured and thousands more displaced. Emergency crews remain locked in an urgent race against time as rescue and recovery operations continue across the country’s hardest-hit northern regions.
According to the Ministry of Communication and Information, more than 6,462 people have been rescued, while humanitarian assistance has reached over 86,000 affected families. Thousands of emergency responders are searching damaged neighborhoods, clearing debris, and helping residents forced into temporary shelters.
Officials reported that 885 buildings were damaged, including 189 structures that completely collapsed, leaving countless families without homes. Nearly 30,000 military personnel, rescue workers, and volunteers, supported by more than 3,300 international rescue specialists, have been deployed to provide medical care, distribute emergency supplies, and restore critical services.
The disaster struck on June 24, when two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude occurred just 39 seconds apart, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The stronger quake was centered near Yumare in Yaracuy state, followed by a second major tremor near San Felipe.
Authorities have since recorded 890 aftershocks, increasing risks for rescue teams and raising concerns over the stability of damaged buildings. While search-and-rescue missions remain active, officials acknowledge that the chances of finding additional survivors continue to diminish.
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