Venezuela Faces Devastating Quakes and Mounting Humanitarian Crisis

Overview

• Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, collapsing thousands of buildings and leaving large areas around La Guaira in ruins.
• The government reports about 1,943 deaths and more than 10,500 injured while non‑government lists and UN assessments say tens of thousands remain unaccounted for.
• Search teams rescued more than 6,400 people in the first days but official daily recoveries have fallen sharply, with volunteers and international squads conducting most late operations.
• Health services are under extreme pressure with dozens of hospitals damaged, rising risk of infectious disease, and UN agencies calling for food, shelter and medical supplies for millions.
• Engineers point to poor construction and weak enforcement of building rules as likely factors in the collapses, and authorities have arrested four CICPC officers filmed taking cash from rubble.