Venezuela Earthquakes Result in Rising Casualties: 1,943 Dead

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30/06/2026 – 23:22 GMT+2

The death toll from two devastating earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela last week has risen to 1,943, authorities reported on Tuesday.

A further 10,571 people have been injured, with 28,380 receiving care in hospitals or temporary shelters, according to Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly.

Back-to-back 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes struck on the evening of 24 June, triggering widespread destruction and leaving thousands missing. A strong aftershock on Friday intensified evacuation efforts as residents fled ongoing tremors.

Rescue operations, supported by international teams from 30 countries, have been ongoing for nearly a week. Over 3,681 responders and 1,000 tons of supplies have been deployed, including 27 vehicles and 118 search dogs.

As of Tuesday, 6,450 survivors have been located, while 13,500 individuals independently escaped the disaster zones.

UNICEF estimates 1.8 million people, including 680,000 children, require urgent humanitarian aid.

A preliminary UNDP assessment noted $6.7 billion in direct physical damage from the quakes.

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