Overview
- The twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 had their epicentre near La Guaira and caused many high-rise collapses and damage to key airports and ports.
- Venezuelan authorities say 4,490 people have died, more than 16,000 are injured and nearly 18,000 have been left homeless, while roughly 6,500 people have been rescued from rubble.
- Emergency search-and-rescue teams from many countries deployed in the first 48–72 hours, but specialist units are beginning to withdraw as operations move toward body recovery, shelter and camp care.
- The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal for nearly US$300 million and preliminary assessments estimate about US$6.7 billion in damage, creating an urgent financing gap for relief and reconstruction.
- Broken transport links, a shortage of heavy lifting equipment, limited fuel and repeated aftershocks are slowing debris clearance, straining hospitals and water services and prolonging displacement for survivors.