An image of the ruins of the San Sebastián de Maiquetía Church after the two earthquakes in La Guaira state, the country’s most affected area. Photo: X / @vicenquintero.
Guacamaya, June 25, 2026. On Wednesday, June 24, two nearly simultaneous earthquakes struck Venezuela, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, causing devastation in several areas of the country, especially in La Guaira and northern Caracas.
According to official figures provided on the morning of June 25, the earthquakes have caused 164 deaths and 971 injuries, while there could be thousands missing. Search and rescue teams continue to work to save lives.
On the night following the earthquake, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, suspended school classes, and announced the closure of certain modes of transportation, including the Maiquetía International Airport.
The Government also confirmed 10 collapsed buildings in Caracas and declared La Guaira a “Disaster Zone.”
In addition to collapsed buildings, civil protection services have already had to declare several buildings in cities such as Caracas “uninhabitable.”
On the “Venezuela Damage Map,” an independent tool created for citizen reporting, 121 buildings were reported as “total collapse,” 125 with “severe structural damage,” and 155 with “partial damage” as of noon on June 25. Most of the damage is concentrated in La Guaira, Caracas, and the north-central region of the country.
Statistical anomalies: two nearly simultaneous earthquakes
The epicenter of the two earthquakes was in Yaracuy state, near the town of Yumare, at 6:05 PM on June 24. Earthquakes of magnitudes 4.4 and 4.5 were also felt near Guatire, Miranda, and Caucaguito, La Guaira.
The United States Geological Survey, in a preliminary estimate, estimated that the devastation could lead to the deaths of even tens of thousands of people, while the economic cost could be between 1% and 7% of GDP.
It also estimates that there is a very high probability of aftershocks of magnitude 5 or greater within a week of the initial earthquakes.
Offers of international aid
Several multilateral organizations and foreign governments have already offered aid to Venezuela, including the United States, Italy, Brazil, Paraguay, Qatar, El Salvador, France, and Mexico, among others; while numerous other heads of state have sent messages of solidarity and support.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said: “I have instructed all our government agencies to prepare to move fast. We will be there for our new and great friends.”
Delcy Rodríguez also held a telephone call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who later announced that his country is already sending rescue workers, that the Department of War will help in the recovery of the Maiquetía International Airport, and that it will provide aerial imagery support, “especially in coastal areas.”
