Venezuela twin quakes kill 235, rescuers race to find survivors
Two shallow quakes off Venezuela killed at least 235 people and left more than 4,300 injured, while rescuers kept digging for people still trapped in collapsed buildings.
At least 235 people were dead and more than 4,300 were injured after twin earthquakes ripped across Venezuela’s northern coast, and officials said many more people were still feared trapped under rubble as rescue crews worked through collapsed buildings. The first shock hit on June 24, 2026, and the larger quake measured 7.5 with its epicenter about 16 kilometers southwest of Morón and a depth of about 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency described the pair as a rare earthquake doublet.
The toll climbed rapidly through the first day, rising from far lower early official figures to the 235 deaths now reported by authorities. That jump has sharpened concern that the casualty count could rise again as search teams reach damaged apartments, offices and public buildings. The shallow depth and close timing of the two strong quakes magnified the damage across the coastal corridor and into the capital.
La Guaira state took the worst of the destruction, with multiple buildings collapsed, while Caracas also reported major structural damage, partial collapses and mass evacuations. The government closed Maiquetía International Airport, also known as Simón Bolívar International Airport, suspended metro and rail services, and declared a state of emergency. Delcy Rodríguez toured affected areas and activated the emergency response, while the Emergency Operations Command coordinated rescue work across the hardest-hit neighborhoods.
The scale of the disaster has pushed the quake pair into the country’s historical record as Venezuela’s strongest earthquake event since the 1900 San Narciso earthquake. For officials, the immediate questions are stark: how many people remain under the debris, how many buildings failed under the shaking, and whether rescue crews can reach survivors before the death toll climbs further.
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