CARACAS, VENEZUELA / Content Syndication Services / – Venezuela’s earthquake death toll has risen to 2,645 after twin quakes struck the country on June 24, authorities said. The disaster injured more than 12,000 people and left about 15,000 homeless. The Communication and Information Ministry released the latest figures as rescue and recovery work continued in Caracas, La Guaira, Caraballeda and other damaged areas along the northern coast.
The earthquakes hit within one minute of each other west of Caracas, shaking the capital and nearby coastal communities. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The second quake followed the first by 39 seconds. Buildings collapsed across parts of Caracas and La Guaira state. Residents fled homes, hospitals and public spaces as aftershocks continued during the first night.
The updated toll followed earlier official figures that placed the number of dead at 2,595. Authorities also reported thousands of injuries as hospitals treated trauma cases, fractures and crush wounds. Emergency crews searched collapsed buildings, while families gathered near rubble sites for news of missing relatives. The hardest-hit zones included La Guaira, a coastal state that borders Caracas and contains the country’s main international airport.
Rescue work expands across quake zone
International rescue teams joined Venezuelan emergency workers in the damaged region. Crews used dogs, listening devices and cutting tools to search through concrete, metal and broken masonry. Helicopters flew over collapsed sites in Caraballeda as teams mapped areas that needed access. Officials said more than 3,300 international rescue workers had deployed to support search operations, medical care and logistics.
The disaster damaged homes, public buildings, health facilities and transport links. Earlier reports from officials listed hundreds of damaged or destroyed structures. Power, water and telecommunications suffered disruptions in several communities. Aid workers and local volunteers distributed food, drinking water and basic supplies. Health teams also moved patients from unsafe buildings and expanded emergency treatment areas where hospital space remained limited.
Thousands displaced after twin earthquakes
The quakes struck a country that lies along an active boundary between the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate. Northern Venezuela has faced major earthquakes before, including the deadly 1967 Caracas earthquake. The June 24 sequence ranks among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century. Authorities also monitored landslide risks in steep areas that shook during the twin earthquakes.
The government declared national mourning as the death toll climbed and rescue work moved into a wider recovery phase. Shelters received displaced families whose homes collapsed or failed safety checks. Cleanup crews cleared debris from roads, while engineers inspected damaged buildings. Officials said casualty figures could change as teams complete searches, identify victims and restore access to communities cut off by debris.