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In the aftermath of a series of devastating earthquakes in Caracas, Venezuela, a person navigates the debris of a collapsed building, reflecting the extensive destruction caused on June 25, 2026. — Reuters
The health authorities report approximately 235 fatalities confirmed at medical facilities. The quakes reached a magnitude of 7.5, marking the most powerful in over a hundred years. The UN Secretary-General emphasizes that a “massive collective effort” will be essential to address this emergency.
Hundreds remain trapped beneath rubble, with countless others unaccounted for, following twin seismic events that struck and damaged numerous structures in and around the capital. The initial quake, registering 7.2, occurred roughly 100 miles west of Caracas on Wednesday evening, swiftly succeeded by a 7.5-magnitude tremor—the strongest since 1900, per the US Geological Survey.
Venezuela, already strained by prolonged economic hardship, faces further challenges as its battered infrastructure hampers rescue efforts amid ongoing aftershocks that shake the region. Health officials report that about 235 bodies have been taken to hospitals, though the total toll remains unconfirmed. Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly and brother to interim President Delcy Rodriguez, stated early that 200 individuals were trapped, and approximately 250 buildings had been damaged or destroyed.
Critical sites, including eight hospitals, the Venezuelan Red Cross headquarters, and the French embassy, have sustained severe damage. In La Guaira state, roughly 70,000 families are affected, according to Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. La Guaira, a coastal region bordering Caracas and home to the airport, is among the hardest-hit zones.
Acting President Rodriguez describes the situation as a “disaster zone” and mentions ongoing efforts with private firms to bring heavy machinery for rescue operations. Power outages persist in some areas, and Caracas’s airport remains closed after sustaining damage, with footage emerging of panic inside the terminal. Emergency personnel and volunteers continue their search through collapsed buildings into the night, often finding the response slow, as residents voice frustrations over delayed aid.
Yamileth Jimenez, a La Guaira resident, laments that her 19-year-old son remains trapped beneath the debris of their seven-story apartment building. “He’s under the slabs, and we don’t have the machinery to get him out,” she says, mourning her father’s recent death.
In the city, volunteers dig through wreckage with their hands, while civilians line the roads toward the coast carrying water, food, and medicine in a desperate effort to support overwhelmed rescue teams. Pedro Perez, 64, owner of an upholstery shop, recounts having lost his home and business and now sleeping on the street with his family, hoping for swift aid.
Many Venezuelans were at home during the quake, which struck on a national public holiday. Panic ensued as buildings rocked and collapsed across Caracas and neighboring coastal towns. Maria Alejandra, a resident of Caracas, describes the chaos: “When we went downstairs, it was like a horror movie.”
In Moron, a seaside town near the epicenter, homes were flattened, and residents faced shortages of water and electricity. About 200 families from a damaged apartment complex are salvaging belongings or waiting for government shelters. Denis Sequera recalls her granddaughter guiding her 79-year-old father to safety while she helped her mother escape amid the tremors. “She kept telling him, ‘Grandpa, get out, put your hands over your head,’ and led him outside,” Sequera recounts. “We’ve been sleeping outdoors, waiting for help.”
A government-supported website tracking missing persons reports over 46,000 individuals unaccounted for shortly after the quake’s impact, though verification is pending. Countries worldwide, regardless of previous relations with Venezuela, have pledged assistance, emphasizing solidarity in this crisis. The U.S. announced it is easing some sanctions related to earthquake relief efforts, with officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming plans to deploy rescue teams and aid logistics support, including at damaged airports.
The UN’s aid chief highlights that a “massive collective effort” will be necessary, especially considering that millions of Venezuelans already depended on humanitarian assistance before the earthquakes. The international organization urges the government to lift certain social media restrictions to facilitate communication, describing connectivity as “a matter of life and death.”
SpaceX’s Starlink has committed to providing free internet service through July 25 to those affected and is working to deploy terminals to critical areas to help restore communications. Despite widespread devastation, foreign energy companies report that their operations and the country’s vital oil infrastructure have largely remained unaffected despite the widespread damage.
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