Two powerful earthquakes, registering magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck northern Venezuela on a Wednesday evening in late June, causing widespread destruction, thousands of casualties, and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. The seismic sequence, occurring less than a minute apart, is among the strongest to hit the region in over a century.
Event and Geological Context
The first earthquake, of magnitude 7.2, was followed approximately 39 seconds later by a second earthquake of magnitude 7.5. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenters were located near the coastal town of Morón, approximately 168 km west of Caracas, and the coastal state of Yaracuy. The quakes were shallow, with depths ranging from 10 km to 20.3 km.
Seismologists classified the event as a "doublet," a sequence where two similar-magnitude earthquakes occur close in time and space, likely on different faults. The region is located on the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, which slide past each other at a rate of approximately 2 cm per year. Major fault systems in the area include the Boconó, San Sebastián, and El Pilar faults.
Casualties and Damage
Official reports on the death toll varied over the days following the event. Initial figures from various sources ranged from 164 to 235, before being updated by government officials. As of one week after the earthquakes, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez reported a death toll exceeding 1,900. Thousands of others were injured, and tens of thousands were reported missing by family members and non-governmental organizations.
The coastal state of La Guaira, which includes the port city and the Simón Bolívar International Airport, was identified as the most severely affected area. Significant damage was also reported in the capital, Caracas, and the states of Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón. In Caracas, buildings collapsed in the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira neighborhoods. The 12-story Residencia Nautilus apartment block in Caraballeda collapsed, becoming a major rescue site.
The USGS estimated that the total number of fatalities could potentially reach thousands. The United Nations Development Programme estimated direct physical damage between $4.7 and $8.7 billion. A preliminary analysis of satellite imagery by NASA indicated that 58,870 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed. The International Organization for Migration estimated that up to 6.8 million people could be affected.
"The USGS estimated that the total number of fatalities could potentially reach thousands."
Rescue and Relief Efforts
Government Response
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and urged citizens to remain calm and stay outdoors due to the risk of aftershocks. The government militarized La Guaira, deploying over 14,000 military and police personnel, and restricted access to the area, requiring special permits for entry. Officials cited traffic congestion hindering search efforts as the reason for the blockade. A $200 million reconstruction fund was announced.
National Rescue Efforts
Firefighters, soldiers, volunteers, and community members participated in search-and-rescue operations. Reports indicated that in many areas, the presence of state rescue teams was limited in the immediate aftermath, with residents and volunteers conducting much of the initial search and debris removal, often using hand tools due to a lack of heavy machinery. Over 770 buildings were reported by the government to have partially or totally collapsed.
International Aid
Numerous countries and international organizations deployed rescue teams, medical personnel, and supplies. The United States pledged over $300 million in aid and deployed two search-and-rescue teams (from Virginia and California), warships, transport planes, and helicopters, assisting with repairs at La Guaira port and the Simón Bolívar International Airport.
Other countries sending aid and personnel included:
- Mexico: 261 personnel, including search-and-rescue teams and medical staff.
- El Salvador: 300 rescuers and 50 metric tons of humanitarian aid.
- Spain: Military plane, search-and-rescue personnel, and field hospital.
- France, Germany, Chile, Switzerland, Turkey, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, UK, Jordan: Provided rescue teams, canine units, and supplies.
The European Union mobilized 5 million euros in emergency assistance and activated its Copernicus satellite system. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal for 50 million Swiss francs.
Casualty and Survivor Stories
Amid the destruction, rescuers reported several successful rescues. An infant was pulled alive by US rescue crews. An 11-year-old boy named Moises was rescued by a Colombian team after being trapped for days. A three-year-old boy, Klieber Morán, was rescued from rubble in La Guaira by a Jordanian team six days after the earthquakes.
In La Guaira, Natacha Díaz reported that her two daughters, aged 22 and 23, were trapped in a collapsed shopping center where they worked. A group of deportees from the United States were at a hotel in La Guaira when it collapsed; several were killed or remain missing.
"A three-year-old boy, Klieber Morán, was rescued from rubble in La Guaira by a Jordanian team six days after the earthquakes."
Context and Challenges
Building Construction
Experts attributed the high level of destruction to construction deficiencies, including inadequate seismic reinforcement in many buildings, particularly older structures and those built on soft soil. A 2023 study indicated that concrete buildings over 20 stories on soft soil had a high probability of collapse in a strong quake. Institutional oversight of building codes was reported to have weakened in recent years.
Communications and Information
Widespread power outages and damage to telecommunications infrastructure hampered communication. Social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which had been blocked in Venezuela since August 2024, became accessible following requests from the United Nations.
Media Access
The Venezuelan press union reported that the Ministry of Communication temporarily restricted access for foreign reporters to the La Guaira area, stating the measure was necessary to avoid noise during rescue operations.
Political Context
The disaster occurred months after former President Nicolás Maduro was detained during a US military operation in January, with his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, assuming office. The earthquakes have drawn international attention to Venezuela's ongoing economic and political challenges, which critics say have weakened the state's capacity to respond to a large-scale natural disaster.