Earthquakes Kill at Least 589 in Venezuela; Rescue Teams and Aid Arrive

Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck Venezuela on the night of June 25, killing at least 589 people and injuring 2,980 others, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez stated on June 26. Rescue teams searched collapsed buildings in northern Venezuela on June 26 morning for survivors among more than 200 aftershocks. The death toll is expected to rise as thousands remain missing.

The quakes, among the strongest in Venezuela in more than a century, were centered near Moron on the Caribbean coast about 105 miles west of Caracas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. La Guaira state north of the capital suffered some of the heaviest damage, including a 10-story building that collapsed completely.

Rodriguez declared a state of emergency late on June 25 and announced a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals and homes. She appealed to businesses to provide heavy equipment for rescue work. Venezuela's main airport in La Guaira closed due to damage.

Rescue teams and aid arrived from Chile, Switzerland, Turkey, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Leaders from Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Canada pledged further assistance. U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was deploying aid after speaking with Rodriguez. X became accessible in Venezuela on June 26 after being blocked since August 2024. A girl was rescued alive from the collapsed building in La Guaira, Caracas metropolitan rescue team head José Luis Núñez said.

Venezuelan authorities diverted teams to the area, which suffered a deadly 1999 mudslide.