Two powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela in the night between 24 and 25 June, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and raising fears that the number of casualties will continue to rise in the coming hours.
In this new emergency, AVSI remains alongside the population and has launched a fundraising campaign, “Venezuela Earthquake Emergency”, to respond immediately to the most urgent needs.
First information on the earthquake
According to preliminary data, the earthquakes – measuring 7.1 and 7.5 in magnitude – occurred in rapid succession, with epicentres near Morón, in Carabobo State, at a depth of around 10 kilometres. The strongest shock, recorded on 24 June 2026 at 22:05 UTC, was felt across much of the country, including the capital Caracas, as well as La Guaira, Aragua and surrounding areas.
State of emergency and institutional response
During the night, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, a necessary step to activate large-scale rescue operations and coordinate the national response.
This measure also allows for the possible involvement of international humanitarian actors. However, a further formal step by the government is still required to fully mobilize international assistance.
Extensive damage and disrupted infrastructure
Initial assessments indicate severe damage in the affected areas. In practical terms, this means that key infrastructure has sustained destruction levels exceeding 50 percent.
The damage includes:
- roads and transport networks
- public buildings, including hospitals and essential services
- airport infrastructure
The international airport of Caracas has been damaged and closed, leading to the suspension of commercial flights to the capital.
Telecommunications are largely still functioning, but the system is under significant strain, with possible disruptions expected.
Risk of further earthquakes
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has issued an alert for potential aftershocks above magnitude 5, posing an additional risk to both the population and first responders operating on the ground.
This increases the complexity of the emergency, as rescue operations must be carried out in unstable and potentially dangerous conditions.
Over 6 million people at risk, humanitarian needs rising rapidly
The area directly affected by the earthquakes is home to more than 600,000 people, but the impact also extends to Caracas, a metropolitan area of around 6 million inhabitants.
Humanitarian organizations expect the death toll to rise significantly. At the same time, urgent needs are increasing rapidly, particularly:
- assistance for displaced people, who could number in the hundreds of thousands
- access to basic goods such as water, food and shelter
- protection for vulnerable groups, especially children
“We expect a significant increase in needs in the coming hours and days, particularly among displaced families and children,” said Fiammetta Cappellini, Head of Humanitarian Emergencies at AVSI.
AVSI presence in Venezuela
The AVSI team in Venezuela is safe and has begun assessing the impact of the earthquake on beneficiaries and local communities.
AVSI has been working in the country since 2000, with ongoing programmes in:
- food security
- school feeding
- education
- child protection, including distance support programmes with the San Antonio Foundation in Humocaro (Lara State)
- migration
In recent years, AVSI has also supported Venezuelan refugees in neighbouring countries, including Brazil and Ecuador.
A rapidly evolving crisis
The situation is evolving quickly. Access constraints, infrastructure damage and the risk of further aftershocks are complicating rescue operations and limiting the availability of reliable data.
In the coming hours, key factors will include:
- the possible activation of international humanitarian response
- the restoration of logistical connections
- the ability to reach the most isolated communities
The earthquake represents one of the most serious emergencies to hit Venezuela in recent years, with potentially long-lasting consequences for millions of people.