On 24 June 2026, two large strike-slip earthquakes affected northwestern and central Venezuela. The epicenters of both earthquakes were in Veroes Municipality, west of San Felipe, the capital city of Yaracuy. The first earthquake, which measured Mw 7.2, occurred at 18:04 VET and was classified as a foreshock. It was followed by a Mw 7.5 mainshock 39 seconds later. The two earthquakes caused widespread damage across the country, particularly in La Guaira and Caracas. More than 2,590 people were killed, over 12,500 were injured, and tens of thousands were reported missing. (Source: Wikipedia)
6/30/2026 – A 3-year-old boy was rescued after surviving six days trapped beneath the rubble.
Many Venezuelans, frustrated, claimed the government’s response was limited and insufficient; what they saw as the government’s attempt to create the impression of an efficient response caused further discontent. At one rubble site, government officials often took selfies before leaving without participating in the recovery effort. Eighty members of a Swiss rescue team said their search dogs found several survivors beneath a rubble site but were unable to rescue them in time. Outrage among civillians were directed at authorities who were managing traffic and making street patrols rather than assisting them in the rescue. In one instance, President Rodríguez disrupted a foreign rescue team from working to thank them.
Soccer player’s wife, kids found dead following Venezuela earthquakes after harrowing 74-hour search