A man inspects a collapsed apartment building following an earthquake in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, some 30km north-west of Caracas, on June 25, 2026. Photo by FEDERICO PARRA / AFP
Death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to at least 188, while 971 people have been injured, National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez confirmed on Thursday.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said about 30 aftershocks have been recorded since the two strongest tremors, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit the country on Wednesday, destroying buildings in Caracas and forcing the closure of the nation’s main airport. .
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck just 39 seconds after a 7.2-magnitude foreshock, describing it as the second event in a seismic doublet.
Reacting to the disaster, US President Donald Trump said, “The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths,” adding, “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly.”
Rescue operations continued across the country, with volunteers searching through collapsed buildings in Caracas as desperate families looked for missing relatives.
Authorities expect the casualty figures to rise as emergency workers continue search-and-rescue efforts in the affected areas.
