Caracas, June 25, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela suffered two successive major earthquakes on Thursday afternoon that caused devastating damage.
Venezuela suffered two successive major earthquakes on Thursday afternoon that caused devastating damage. There are many people buried in the rubble and the death toll is for sure to be significant.
Authorities reported that 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck 39 seconds apart just after 6 pm. The epicenters were close to San Felipe, Yaracuy State, some 120 kilometers west of Caracas.
The tremors strongly shook central and northern Venezuela and were felt as far as Brazil and Colombia. Geological services registered 20 aftershocks in the following hours.
Emergency services, firefighters, and civil protection brigades were immediately deployed. Videos circulated on social media showed collapsed infrastructure in parts of the capital and nearby towns and rescue teams removing rubble to reach survivors.
Reports from coastal La Guaira state showed completely devastated areas with rows of destroyed buildings.
Authorities reported on Friday morning that there were 164 people confirmed dead and 971 injured.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez addressed the nation on Thursday night and again in the early hours of Friday, calling for calm and unity in the wake of the natural disaster and declaring a state of emergency.
Rodríguez decreed a suspension of educational and “non-essential” activities, as well as the Caracas metro and suburban trains. The Simón Bolívar airport in nearby Maiquetía was likewise temporarily shut down.
“The priority right now is to save lives,” the acting president told the press. “Later we will address the material reconstruction.”
The acting president called the situation in La Guaira “a real tragedy” and a “disaster zone” with dozens of collapsed buildings. She expressed condolences to relatives of victims and urged Venezuelans to report missing people or damaged infrastructure via a dedicated phone app.
Rodríguez went on to call on people to evacuate buildings with visible structural damage and urged medical personnel to report to their stations as soon as possible.
During the press conference, Rodríguez thanked multiple countries for expressing solidarity and offering support, and announced the imminent arrival of rescue teams from the US, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Qatar.
She singled out US President Donald Trump, thanking him for his “support and solidarity” and for being “in constant contact with the Venezuelan government.”
Trump had previously announced in a social media post Thursday evening that he had “instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly.”
“We will be there for our new and great friends,” he vowed.
For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.” He added that Washington would “rely on the Department of War to deploy assets” to Venezuela given the damage suffered by the country’s main airport.
Caracas additionally received support from Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, and a host of other nations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that specialized rescue teams are being prepared and that her government is in contact with Venezuelan counterparts.
In a contentious move, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced “immediate preparations” for the possible deployment of an aid mission to Venezuela.
Israeli nonprofit IsraAid and NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief likewise said Thursday they will dispatch teams to Venezuela. Both organizations have been active in the Gaza Strip, coordinating with the Israeli military amid its ongoing Western-sponsored genocide.
The Venezuelan government has yet to comment on the Israeli aid missions. Caracas suspended diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv in 2009 and under Presidents Nicolás Maduro and Hugo Chávez resolutely opposed Israeli occupations of Gaza and Lebanon.
Edited and with additional reporting by Lucas Koerner from Caracas.
Source: Venezuela Analysis
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