Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 235 Victims
Venezuela, earthquake, Carlos Alvarado, Delcy Rodríguez, La Guaira, humanitarian response, rescue operations, United Nations, natural disaster
Rescue teams continue emergency operations in Venezuela following Wednesday’s earthquakes that left hundreds dead and thousands injured. Photo: EFE
June 26, 2026 Hour: 2:21 am
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Rescue teams remain at work as authorities report more than 4,300 injured and hundreds still missing or trapped.
RELATED: El Salvador Airlifts Aid to Quake-Hit Venezuela
The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 235, while more than 4,300 people have been injured, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado announced as search and rescue operations continued across the affected regions.
Updating the official figures, Alvarado said Venezuela’s public health system had treated thousands of injured people and received hundreds of victims who arrived without vital signs or died upon reaching medical facilities.
“It is also important to remember that, within the public health system, as of 7:00 p.m. today we have treated more than 4,300 injured people (…) and we have received around 235 patients who arrived without vital signs or died upon reaching our health facilities,” Alvarado said.
The preliminary assessment also reported 157 people missing, 200 trapped beneath collapsed structures and more than 2,927 displaced families. Authorities said 250 buildings sustained severe damage, including eight hospitals, some of which had to be evacuated.
Officials warned that the death toll could continue to rise as emergency crews press ahead with rescue operations in the hardest-hit areas.
Venezuelan authorities also ruled out a tsunami threat across the country and urged the public to avoid spreading false or misleading information, calling on residents to remain calm and follow official communication channels.
Epicenter in La Guaira
The most severe destruction has been reported in La Guaira, where more than 100 buildings collapsed. The government has mobilized heavy machinery and is preparing to deploy 11,500 security personnel to support rescue efforts, while thousands of volunteers have joined the search for survivors and the collection of emergency supplies.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, accompanied by senior officials Diosdado Cabello and Jorge Rodríguez, visited the affected area amid reports of disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services.
International assistance has expanded as the humanitarian response intensifies. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher described the situation as “truly terrifying devastation” and confirmed the deployment of 12 international search-and-rescue teams.
El Salvador and the Dominican Republic have already dispatched emergency brigades. The United States authorized exemptions to existing sanctions for transactions related to humanitarian relief operations and allocated US$150 million through humanitarian agencies to support the emergency response.
Air traffic remains disrupted after damage to the country’s main airport forced airlines, including Iberia and Air Europa, to cancel flights. However, other domestic airports have partially resumed operations, depending on local conditions.
As rescue efforts continue, civil society groups have activated digital networks to help families locate missing relatives amid widespread communication outages, adding to an already critical humanitarian situation as Venezuela begins the recovery process.
Author: MK
Source: Agencies
