Overview
- The twin earthquakes struck off La Guaira on Wednesday, June 24, measured at about 7.2 and 7.5 and caused severe shaking that toppled buildings and damaged the Simón Bolívar airport and the Port of La Guaira.
- Officials report more than 1,700 people killed and thousands injured while private missing‑person databases and some agencies list tens of thousands unaccounted for, highlighting a large gap between official counts and non‑government tallies.
- A preliminary NASA satellite assessment estimated roughly 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and widespread infrastructure damage has disrupted power, water and transport links across hard‑hit coastal areas.
- Dozens of countries have sent rescue teams, medical personnel and equipment and the United States has pledged over $300 million plus military transport and logistical help to repair access at the airport and port, as search efforts give way to large‑scale aid operations.
- Humanitarian agencies warn of an expanding crisis with up to about 6.8 million people potentially affected, urgent needs for food, shelter and health care, and risks of prolonged displacement and disease in places where local services were already strained.