Death Toll From Venezuela Twin Earthquakes Rises To 235
News Updated: 26 June 2026 09:47 EAT
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The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to at least 235, with more than 4,300 people injured, according to the country's Health Ministry. Rescue teams continued searching through collapsed buildings on Friday as authorities warned that the number of casualties could increase. Reports indicate hundreds of people remain missing in the worst-affected areas.
The powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart off Venezuela's Caribbean coast, causing widespread destruction in the capital, Caracas, and the neighbouring coastal state of La Guaira. The United States Geological Survey said the second tremor was among the strongest to hit the country in more than a century.
La Guaira has suffered the most severe damage, with residential buildings, hospitals, schools and public infrastructure either collapsing or sustaining extensive structural damage. Entire neighbourhoods have been left without electricity, clean water and reliable communications as emergency services work to restore essential services.
Thousands of emergency responders, military personnel and volunteers have been deployed to the disaster zone to search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble. Heavy machinery and specialised rescue equipment are being used alongside search dogs as crews race against time during the critical first days after the disaster.
Hospitals across the affected regions remain under immense pressure as they continue treating thousands of injured people. Medical teams have established temporary treatment centres while emergency supplies, including medicines and blood products, are being transported to the hardest-hit communities.
The Venezuelan government has declared a national state of emergency and mobilised disaster response agencies to coordinate rescue and relief operations. Schools, sports centres and other public buildings have been converted into temporary shelters to accommodate families displaced by the earthquakes.
The disaster has also caused significant damage to roads, bridges, telecommunications networks and power infrastructure, complicating rescue efforts and delaying the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Authorities have urged residents to avoid damaged buildings due to the continued risk posed by strong aftershocks.
International humanitarian organisations and several governments have pledged emergency assistance, including search-and-rescue teams, medical personnel and relief supplies. The United Nations is coordinating with Venezuelan authorities and aid agencies to support ongoing rescue operations and assess longer-term humanitarian needs.
Authorities have warned that the death toll may continue to rise as rescue teams reach areas that remain inaccessible due to debris and damaged infrastructure. Officials have urged residents to follow evacuation orders, remain alert for aftershocks and rely on official updates as emergency operations continue across the affected regions.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD