Powerful earthquakes kill more than 30 in Venezuela, hundreds injured
Powerful earthquakes in Venezuela have claimed more than 30 lives (photo: video screenshot)
More than 30 people were killed, and at least 700 others were injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24, El País reports.
Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck northern Venezuela on the evening of June 24.
The earthquakes caused the collapse of several buildings in Caracas, Trujillo, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, and La Guaira.
President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that at least 32 people were killed and another 700 were injured.
"We have reports of 32 deaths, not including data from La Guaira state, and more than 700 injured people who are being treated in emergency departments at both public and private hospitals," she said.
Rodríguez added that La Guaira, a coastal state in northern Venezuela near Caracas, was hit the hardest. Dozens of buildings were destroyed there.
"It can be said that La Guaira state is a true tragedy and has become a disaster zone," the president said.
A state of emergency has been declared in Venezuela. Rescue teams from the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Qatar, and the Dominican Republic are expected to arrive.
Devastation in Venezuela.
— The Alternate Media (@AlternateMediaX) June 25, 2026
Back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck near the Venezuelan coast, triggering building collapses and widespread destruction.
The USGS has issued a preliminary assessment warning that casualties could exceed 100,000.
Rescue operations… pic.twitter.com/PH2B5Ia1gI
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry responds
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine expresses its solidarity with the people of Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
"We extend our most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured and great strength to the rescue teams working tirelessly on the ground. We trust that all affected communities can recover from this tragic catastrophe as soon as possible," the foreign minister added.
Earthquakes in Venezuela
Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.1 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24. The tremors caused buildings to collapse in the country's capital, Caracas.
The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.1, struck near the city of Morón on Venezuela's Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, the region was hit by an even stronger 7.5-magnitude earthquake.
In Caracas, people rushed out of buildings into the streets. Several districts of the capital reported collapsed structures and clouds of dust following the destruction of buildings. Authorities reported damage to residential buildings and the start of rescue operations.
Following the earthquakes, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat for parts of the Caribbean region, including the Virgin Islands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire. Some of the warnings were later lifted.
