Venezuela Earthquakes Kill 164, Trigger State of Emergency

Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of two major earthquakes that struck on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, leaving at least 164 people dead and nearly 1000 injured. The seismic events caused widespread destruction, with numerous buildings collapsing and entire cities left without essential services like electricity and gas.

The first tremor, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, occurred at 6:04 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 21 kilometers west of Morón. Less than a minute later, a more powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck a few kilometers away, marking the strongest seismic event in Venezuela since 1900. These earthquakes are among the most significant to hit the country in over a century, surpassing the 1900 San Narciso earthquake (magnitude 7.6) and the 2018 Sucre earthquake (magnitude 7.3).

In response to the devastation, interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency and designated La Guaira as a "disaster zone." Rescue teams are working tirelessly to search for survivors trapped in the rubble of collapsed structures. The Simón Bolívar International Airport has suspended all operations due to severe damage to its infrastructure, further complicating relief efforts.

Authorities have urged the population to remain in open areas due to the risk of aftershocks, which could cause further damage to already weakened buildings. The subway and natural gas services in Caracas have been suspended, and classes have been canceled for several days. An unofficial website, Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela, has been activated to help users report missing persons and facilitate contact with emergency services and rescue teams.

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We are currently engaged in very arduous rescue operations to save the lives that God allows us to save.