A UN-coordinated recovery effort is underway in Venezuela to locate survivors after the country was rocked by two earthquakes on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST) just outside the capital, Caracas, with the death toll reaching 188 people.
The powerful shakes are the strongest felt in Venezuela in a century, with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reporting a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hitting about 160 km from the country’s capital, with a 7.5-magnitude tremor hitting less than a minute later.
Venezuela’s head of the national assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, has said at least 188 people have died, with a further 1,520 people injured. Initial USGS surveys estimated the death toll could reach thousands.
A pair of powerful earthquakes rocked Venezuela, tearing down buildings, closing the country’s main airport and sending panicked residents of the capital pouring into the streets. At least 146 have died, the acting president said Thursday, warning that the toll was expected to… pic.twitter.com/byaOua2DuE
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 25, 2026
Thousands are believed to be missing as the rescue effort continues
There’s not currently a confirmed number of those missing. A website set up to track missing people reached approximately 10,000 people within a few hours and now has around 44,000 people listed and yet to be contacted.
In a national address, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said the death toll was expected to climb.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said, adding, “La Guaira state is a true tragedy, and has become a disaster zone.”
Reuters is reporting locals have volunteered to help the rescue efforts, with some digging through rubble with their bare hands.
Countries pledge to help
Countries around the world are pledging to assist the recovery effort. Rescue teams in El Salvador are preparing to be deployed, as well as military and medical personnel in Mexico.
In Europe, France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced “France stands ready, alongside its European partners, to provide assistance,” deploying 85 rescue workers to Venezuela. The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV has sent an initial emergency fund of 100,000 euros ($165,000 AUD).
Donald Trump has also offered assistance, pledging U.S. aid to help with the recovery. In a press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “[The U.S. response] will be big. It will be fast. It will be effective.”
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