Venezuela Reels From Devastating Twin Earthquakes; Death Toll at 164 and Climbing

Updated: 7:20 PM PST, Thursday, June 25, 2026

Venezuela remains in a state of emergency after two powerful back-to-back earthquakes tore through the country’s northern coast on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in Caracas and the surrounding region in what authorities are calling the country’s strongest quake in more than a century.

Death Toll Climbing

As of the latest official update, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said at least 164 people have been killed and 971 injured, though officials and outside experts warn the true toll is likely far higher and continuing to rise as rescue crews dig through rubble. The U.S. Geological Survey, using predictive modeling, has warned the final death toll could run into the thousands — with a meaningful probability of surpassing 10,000, and a smaller but real chance it could exceed 100,000 given the scale of destruction and the prevalence of earthquake-vulnerable housing in the affected areas.

What Happened

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near the town of San Felipe, roughly 100 miles west of Caracas, at around 6:04 p.m. local time Wednesday. Just 39 seconds later, a larger magnitude 7.5 quake hit near the town of Yumare. The quakes struck on a national holiday, when many Venezuelans were home, and triggered at least 30 aftershocks in the hours that followed.

Caracas — built atop a deep sedimentary basin that amplifies seismic shaking — suffered widespread building collapses. The coastal state of La Guaira was hit hardest and has been declared a disaster zone, with a waterfront hotel in the city of Macuto among the dozens of structures reduced to rubble. Videos verified by international outlets show flattened apartment blocks, collapsed roads, and residents fleeing into the streets as dust clouds swept through neighborhoods.

On the Ground

Survivors described scenes of chaos and fear. One Caracas resident said the shaking felt like it lasted two to three minutes and “felt endless.” Another described the aftermath as resembling “a horror movie,” with rescuers and bystanders climbing over debris to search for trapped neighbors. Thousands of residents spent the night sleeping outdoors or in their cars, too afraid of aftershocks to return home.

Compounding the crisis, internet and phone connectivity across Venezuela dropped sharply after the quakes damaged power and telecom infrastructure, making it difficult for families — including the large Venezuelan diaspora abroad — to reach loved ones. Connectivity watchdog Netblocks reported only partial recovery hours later, and a U.N. fact-finding mission has urged Venezuelan authorities to fully restore access to social media and news sites, warning that “access to information will be a matter of life and death” in the days ahead.

Government Response

Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, closing Caracas’s main international airport (described by U.S. officials as “badly damaged”), suspending rail service, and canceling schools nationwide for at least a week. She said she is coordinating with the United Nations on rescue support and with the International Monetary Fund to establish an initial $200 million assistance fund.

International Aid Pouring In

Help has been pledged from around the world:

• The United States said it is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance,” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio promising a response that will be “big, fast, and effective.” Rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles are among those being sent, alongside satellite imagery support for hard-to-assess coastal areas.
• Germany said it is ready to deploy up to six military aircraft for relief efforts.
• El Salvador is sending roughly 300 rescuers and paramedics along with 50 tons of equipment and supplies.
• China, a major buyer of Venezuelan oil, pledged support, while leaders of France, Spain, and Brazil all expressed condolences and solidarity.
• The European Commission President offered sympathy to “all Venezuelans following last night’s devastating earthquakes.”

A Crisis Within a Crisis

The disaster lands at an especially fragile moment for Venezuela. The country is currently led by an interim government following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this year, and its economy remains crippled by years of hyperinflation. The United Nations estimated in May that nearly 8 million of Venezuela’s 28 million people already needed humanitarian assistance — a number likely to grow sharply in the earthquake’s wake.

Venezuela has a long history of destructive earthquakes due to its position along active tectonic boundaries; the last major quake to strike Caracas, in 1967, killed an estimated 225–300 people. Wednesday’s twin quakes are already being described as the most powerful to hit the country in well over a hundred years.

This is a developing story. Casualty figures, the scale of damage, and the international response are expected to change as rescue operations continue. Figures above reflect the latest available official reporting as of the timestamp noted.