Venezuela earthquakes: Over 50,000 reported missing as international relief efforts ramped up (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
The death toll from two earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 589, with thousands more injured, acting President Delcy Rodriguez has said. More than 50,000 people have been reported missing as international search, rescue, and relief efforts intensify.
Two major tremors measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 by the US Geological Survey struck off Venezuela’s northern coast on Wednesday near the city of Moron and were felt across most of the country as well as in neighboring Colombia and several Caribbean islands.
The disaster, unlike anything the country has experienced in over a century, caused significant devastation, with entire building blocks collapsing, according to harrowing aerial footage. The coastal city of La Guaira was among the hardest hit.
Caracas has announced a nationwide state of emergency, deploying the armed forces, civil defense units, and emergency services. Several nations, including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, India, Mexico, El Salvador, Türkiye, and the US, have announced sending teams to support the efforts. Washington also said it would lift some unilateral sanctions it had imposed on Venezuela to facilitate the humanitarian efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, and said Moscow stands in solidarity with the “friendly Venezuelan people.” The Kremlin said Russia is ready to provide assistance if requested.
China also extended condolences and said it is ready to assist, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun expressing confidence that the Venezuelan people will overcome the disaster and rebuild. Other countries and international organizations, including France, Germany, Türkiye, Iran, the Vatican, the UN and the World Bank, have also pledged assistance or expressed support for relief efforts.
The US also offered assistance despite a history of tensions. President Donald Trump previously boasted that America had “taken over” the country’s oil sector after the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro during a commando raid in January.
The Venezuelan quakes came just hours before a separate magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Japan’s northern prefectures of Aomori and Iwate, injuring at least eight people, mainly due to falling objects, according to the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The deadliest earthquake in Venezuela’s recent history struck in 1967, killing around 300 people and injuring some 1,600 in Caracas. Another earthquake in the country’s northeast in 1997 killed at least 81 people.
26 June 2026
13:00 GMTThe death toll from the back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 589 people, with thousands more being injured, acting President Delcy Rodriguez has said.
“We are going to rescue the people who are trapped. We are working tirelessly on this task,” Rodriguez vowed.
- 12:51 GMT
An online registry has received reports of nearly 50,000 missing people since the earthquakes, as disruptions to telecommunications and internet services left many unable to contact relatives and friends. Many are using online platforms to search for those still unaccounted for.
- 12:36 GMT
India is sending two military transport aircraft to Venezuela carrying a field hospital and more than 35 tons of relief supplies, including medicines and medical equipment, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said on social media.
Operation Amistad underway!
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 26, 2026
Two @IAF_MCC C17s took-off today for Venezuela with urgent assistance to support their post-earthquake relief efforts.
The assistance contains an Indian Army @adgpi Field Hospital Unit and over 35 tons of relief supplies, medicines and medical… pic.twitter.com/Dcq8P065tp - 12:28 GMT
More than 100 buildings have collapsed in La Guaira state, which was hit the hardest during the twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela on Wednesday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has said.
According to Cabello, the heaviest destruction occurred in the state’s Caraballeda and Catia La Mar areas on the Caribbean Sea coast.
- 11:56 GMT
Türkiye will send two military aircraft with search-and-rescue teams and humanitarian aid to Venezuela, which was hit by two earthquakes earlier this week, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has said.
The first A-400M military aircraft will carry some 45 rescuers and medics, two search dogs and two units of specialized vehicles from Istanbul, Izmir and Denizli, it said.
The second plane will deliver a 22-member Humanitarian Aid Brigade team with its equipment to the country to Venezuela. Both aircraft will depart for Türkiye later on Friday, according to AFAD.
- 11:37 GMT
A video has emerged on social media showing a seemingly unharmed baby being extracted from the rubble after surviving two back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela.
🙏🇻🇪 | Milagro entre los escombros. Un bebé fue rescatado con vida tras resistir a los dos devastadores terremotos que dejaron más de 180 víctimas mortales en Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/vFfSOnsEhQ
— LA PRENSA Nicaragua (@laprensa) June 26, 2026 - 11:17 GMT
The US Treasury Department has said that it will be lifting some of Washington’s sanctions against Venezuela after it was hit by twin earthquakes.
“All transactions” with the country “related to earthquake relief efforts” will be allowed between June 26 and October 23, according to the agency’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
- 00:28 GMT
A video emerged from inside a passenger plane shaking on the tarmac at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia when the earthquake struck.
The airport was heavily damaged and suspended operations on Wednesday.
🇻🇪 Así se vivió el doble terremoto desde dentro de un avión que estaba cerca de despegar en el Aeropuerto de Maiquetia, La Guaira, Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/pbbyek3ja1
— Venezuela News (@AgenciaVNews) June 25, 2026
