Official Update: Venezuela Confirms 1,943 Fatalities, More Than 15,000 Displaced Following June 24 Earthquakes
Venezuelan authorities have confirmed 1,943 fatalities, 10,571 injuries, and 15,866 displaced persons following the twin earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, according to an official update delivered by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez.
The government also reported that the seismic emergency has affected approximately 80,870 families nationwide, as response and recovery operations continue across the hardest-hit regions.
Extensive Damage Concentrated in La Guaira
Rodríguez stated that the most severe destruction is concentrated in La Guaira state, particularly in the coastal communities of Caraballeda and Catia La Mar, where emergency crews continue conducting structural damage assessments.
Nationwide, authorities have identified 855 damaged buildings, including 189 structures that suffered total collapse. Of those completely destroyed, 158 were located along Venezuela’s central coastline, underscoring the scale of devastation in the country’s primary impact zone.
Government officials also revealed that technical assessments—conducted through drone surveillance, aerial reconnaissance, and hospital census data—estimate that approximately 30,000 people were present in the areas of greatest impact when the earthquakes occurred.
Temporary Shelters Expanded
To address the immediate housing emergency, authorities rapidly established 14 emergency shelters in La Guaira and 55 additional temporary shelters throughout Caracas and Miranda state.
According to Rodríguez, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez instructed government agencies to strengthen both medical and psychological support services within temporary shelters while accelerating housing repair and reconstruction programs for the more than 80,000 affected families.
More Than 6,400 People Rescued from Collapsed Structures
Rodríguez also confirmed that 6,461 people have been rescued alive from collapsed buildings through what he described as “heroic” rescue operations carried out since the disaster.
According to the official breakdown:
- 2,407 people were rescued during the first day of operations.
- 2,973 were rescued on the second day.
- 731 were rescued on the third day.
- 345 were rescued on the fourth day.
- Four individuals were located and rescued on the fifth day.
- A two-year-old child was rescued during the early hours of today.
Officials reported that emergency operations in Caraballeda and Catia La Mar ultimately contributed to saving 19,861 lives. This figure includes those rescued by specialized emergency teams as well as approximately 13,500 residents who managed to evacuate independently or with assistance from relatives and neighbors.
Nationwide and International Rescue Effort Continues
Rodríguez said that Venezuela mobilized specialized urban search-and-rescue teams from the states of Mérida, Táchira, Zulia, Lara, Falcón, and Trujillo, whose personnel have been working alongside international rescue brigades in complex operations to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
He added that Acting President Delcy Rodríguez continues to oversee the deployment of 26,121 personnel from the National Fire Service, Civil Protection, and the Bolivarian National Armed Forces. Their operations are being supported by 467,000 registered civilian volunteers participating in humanitarian and recovery efforts.
Authorities also reported that 51 international rescue delegations remain active in Venezuela, contributing 3,660 foreign disaster response specialists and 148 search-and-rescue dogs to ongoing operations.
Despite the difficult conditions, search efforts continue as officials have recorded 689 aftershocks since the initial earthquakes, requiring emergency teams to operate under persistent seismic risk.
Key Points
- Venezuelan authorities have confirmed 1,943 deaths, 10,571 injuries, and 15,866 displaced persons following the June 24 earthquakes.
- More than 80,870 families have been affected, with extensive damage concentrated in La Guaira, particularly in Caraballeda and Catia La Mar.
- Authorities have identified 855 damaged buildings, including 189 total collapses, most of them along the central coast.
- Emergency responders have rescued 6,461 survivors from collapsed structures, contributing to a total of 19,861 lives saved during rescue operations.
- More than 26,000 emergency personnel, 467,000 volunteers, and 51 international rescue missions continue search, rescue, and humanitarian operations despite hundreds of aftershocks.
Why This Matters
The latest official figures illustrate the unprecedented scale of Venezuela’s earthquake emergency, with casualties, displacement, and infrastructure damage continuing to rise as assessments progress. Beyond the immediate humanitarian response, the government’s focus has shifted toward long-term recovery through housing reconstruction, expanded shelter capacity, and international coordination. The continued deployment of domestic and foreign rescue teams, despite ongoing aftershocks, highlights both the complexity of the operation and the critical importance of sustained humanitarian assistance as Venezuela moves from emergency response toward recovery and rebuilding.
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