On June 24, 2026, an extremely rare earthquake doublet struck Venezuela along the San Sebastián fault system in the Yaracuy state. The geological event caused dozens of high-rise buildings and residential complexes to collapse across Caracas and La Guaira. As of Friday, the verified death toll reached 589, with 2,980 injuries reported.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez formally designated La Guaira a disaster zone and invoked emergency powers to militarize the state. The administration stated the military deployment will maintain order and coordinate the recovery logistics for the estimated 11,000 to 36,000 people reported missing in the region. The Simón Bolívar International Airport also sustained severe structural damage.
The initial magnitude 7.2 foreshock was followed 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, and the country has recorded at least 214 aftershocks since Wednesday, according to The Week. The dual tremors mark the strongest earthquakes recorded in Venezuela in over 125 years.
International aid teams are mobilizing to assist local rescue crews. The United States pledged $150 million in relief, and the United Nations deployed 1,000 personnel. India launched Operation Amistad, dispatching military medical teams and 35 tons of supplies to the disaster zone. Search and rescue personnel from Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, and multiple Latin American nations are currently operating on the ground in La Guaira.