Vatican Sends Emergency Funds to Venezuela After Earthquake-stricken
(FILE) The financial contribution sent from the Vatican will strengthen soup kitchens and emergency collection centers in affected areas. Photo: EFE.
June 25, 2026 Hour: 3:53 pm
🔗 Comparte este artículo
The Vatican approved this Thursday an emergency donation of 100,000 euros to support Venezuelan victims of two major earthquakes that devastated the central-northern region of the South American nation on Wednesday.
Official Vatican media outlets formally announced this humanitarian initiative on June 25, meamwhile the Holy See confirmed that the initial financial resources will address the immediate food and medical requirements of Venezuela’s vulnerable populations affected by the strongest seismic event since 1900.
RELATED: Venezuela Thanks Leaders Support and Solidarity After Devastating Earthquakes
The Vatican channelled these resources through the Apostolic Almoner for immediate release. Church authorities will deliver the money to the local Venezuelan Catholic Church to organize relief operations in affected communities.
This financial assistance will strengthen critical soup kitchens and emergency parish collection points. These emergency stations operate directly within the worst-hit popular neighborhoods to distribute food, medicines and basic hygiene supplies to families.
The amount of 100,000 euros allocated by the Supreme Pontiff was agreed after maintaining intense direct contacts with the Apostolic Nuncio in the country, Monsignor Alberto Ortega Martín, evaluateing the damage to design a rapid response strategy.
Details were also coordinated with the archbishop of Caracas, Raúl Biord Castillo, in order to assess the severity of material destruction in the affected dioceses.
Urgent Humanitarian Assistance
The dual earthquakes registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale on Wednesday afternoon. The seismic events struck at 6:05 P.M. local time, catching the population by surprise.
This geological disaster has officially become the strongest and most destructive seismic activity recorded in Venezuela in over a century. Historians confirm it is the worst earthquake since the San Narciso earthquake of October 1900.
The double tremor shook major cities in the central-northern region, including Caracas. High-density residential zones suffered immediate structural damage, leaving hundreds of families trapped under collapsed buildings and concrete ruins.
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed in the early morning that the preliminary casualty count stands at 188 deaths and 1520 people injured. Emergency personnel continue working through the debris to locate survivors.
Rodriguez specified that the coastal state of La Guaira remains the most affected territory. Multiple residential apartment complexes collapsed completely in this region, which complicates current search and rescue operations.
National Emergency Decreed
In response to the unprecedented tragedy, the national Executive decreed a general state of emergency. This official decree orders the mandatory return of all medical staff to their designated healthcare clinics.
Additionally, public security forces mobilized to assist in the rescue of citizens. Local Governments established temporary shelters to protect families from the threat of constant aftershocks rocking the region.
The Bolivarian Government also ordered the immediate closure of Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, suspending all flights after discovering critical structural failures inside several passenger airport terminals. Finally, transport systems such as the Caracas Metro remain suspended while authorities evaluate infrastructure stability.
Author: Laura V. Mor
Source: Vatican News
