Overview
- Two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s northern coast on June 24 flattened multistory neighborhoods, damaged Simón Bolívar airport and La Guaira port, and triggered more than 600 aftershocks in the days since.
- Official counts now put the death toll above 1,700 with more than 5,000 injured, while non-government databases and local reports show tens of thousands of people unaccounted for or listed as missing.
- Search-and-rescue teams from Venezuela and more than two dozen countries continue limited operations, but aid groups warn the critical 72-hour survival window has largely passed and chances of finding live victims have fallen sharply.
- The United States and other partners have expanded aid, deployed rescue crews and are helping reopen La Guaira port and the main airport to speed delivery of supplies and heavy equipment for recovery.
- Preliminary satellite assessments show very large building losses (about 58,870 damaged or destroyed), the displaced face urgent needs for shelter, water and health care, and public anger over the speed and coordination of the government response is rising.