Rescuers Race Continues in Venezuela As Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 188
To strengthen the rescue efforts, President Rodríguez requested the dispatch of international rescue teams. Photo: EFE.
June 25, 2026 Hour: 6:16 pm
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Venezuela reports this Thursday afternoon 188 fatalities, 1,520 injured and 157 missing persons, prompting the government to declare a disaster zone in La Guaira and request international humanitarian assistance.
Venezuela prioritized critical life-saving operations following two devastating earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that struck the country on June 24.
Up to Thursday afternoon, official reports confirmed 188 dead, over 1,500 people injured, 157 people missing, 200 people trapped, 2,927 families affected, 250 buildings damaged, 8 hospitals affected and 20 shopping centers damaged.
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The President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, emphasized that the absolute priority of Venezuela is saving lives and rescuing citizens trapped beneath the rubble. He urged the nation to set aside political differences to consolidate a single force of national unity during this severe humanitarian crisis.
The natural disaster occurred after two almost simultaneous earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale shook the country, causing extensive damage in Caracas and La Guaira.
Seismic networks registered a total of 140 tectonic events, consisting of the two main earthquakes and 138 aftershocks. The devastating tremors heavily affected Caracas, La Guaira, Aragua, and Carabobo. Rodríguez confirmed that rescue crews are working in a desperate race against time.
Critical Emergency Response
Emergency personnel estimate that more than 200 people remain trapped inside collapsed buildings. Official records indicate that 2,927 families are currently displaced, having lost their homes. Additionally, evaluations show that at least 250 buildings are destroyed or severely damaged, primarily concentrated in La Guaira state, with widespread destruction reported in the coastal towns of Caraballeda and Playa Grande.
In response to the catastrophic scenario, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez officially declared an national emergency and she immediately activated a unified command structure on the ground to coordinate critical assistance operations, focusing major resources on the hard-hit state of La Guaira to streamline medical aid and debris clearance.
Global Solidarity Mobilized
To reinforce national rescue operations, the Venezuelan Government requested the immediate deployment of international rescue teams. In response, specialized disaster response flights are arriving from the United States, Mexico, Spain and Qatar. Additionally, a highly trained contingent of disaster management experts from the United Nations is joining local forces on the ground.
These foreign delegations are collaborating closely with Venezuelan search and rescue personnel, deploying heavy machinery and specialized technology to accelerate the safe removal of collapsed concrete slabs. This coordinated effort aims to locate and extract survivors from the debris before the critical survival window closes.
As a preventive safety measure, Rodriguez ordered the suspension of academic and labor activities across the affected territories, maintaining only essential public services active. Authorities have strongly urged the population to remain calm, stay inside secure locations and direct all donations of bottled water, medicine and mattresses to authorized municipal collection centers set up in schools, universities and churches.
Author: Laura V. Mor
Source: teleSUR / VTV
