Venezuela twin earthquakes: Magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes kill at least 164, injure nearly 1,000, trigger international aid and state of emergency

On June 24, 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within a minute of each other. The first, magnitude 7.2, was followed by a magnitude 7.5 quake, both shallow and centered near the Caribbean coast west of Caracas. The earthquakes caused widespread destruction, collapsing dozens of buildings in the capital Caracas and the state of La Guaira, which was declared a disaster zone. At least 164 people were killed and 971 injured, according to acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who declared a state of emergency and closed the main international airport. The USGS warned that final casualties could be much higher, possibly in the tens of thousands, and that strong aftershocks are likely. International aid quickly mobilized. The United States, via Secretary of State Marco Rubio, offered search and rescue teams. El Salvador sent 300 rescue workers, and other countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, and the UK expressed solidarity and offered assistance. Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams combing rubble for survivors. The earthquakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century, highlighting the region's tectonic vulnerability, especially given poor building standards in many areas.