Key facts
- European rescue teams from France, the UK, and Spain have arrived in Venezuela to search for earthquake survivors.
- The earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck on June 24, 2026.
- Over 1,700 people have been confirmed dead, with tens of thousands still missing.
- The US military reopened a key seaport and assisted with airport traffic restoration.
- A preliminary assessment suggests over 58,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
European rescue teams have arrived in Venezuela to assist in the search for survivors of powerful twin earthquakes that struck the South American nation on June 24, 2026. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, are the strongest to hit the country in over a century, resulting in over 1,700 confirmed deaths and leaving tens of thousands unaccounted for.
Search and rescue teams from France, the UK, and Spain are utilizing specialized equipment, including geophones, to detect potential survivors buried under the rubble. While the critical 72-hour window for rescuing living victims has passed, efforts continue.
Meanwhile, the United States military has reopened a key seaport and assisted in restoring traffic at the heavily damaged Simon Bolivar International Airport near Caracas. The Port of La Guaira is being used to store hundreds of unidentified bodies. A new 4.6 magnitude tremor on Monday rekindled fear among the population.
According to a preliminary assessment of satellite data from NASA and the European Space Agency, more than 58,000 buildings were likely damaged or destroyed across the affected region. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reported a lower figure of 855 damaged buildings, including 189 total collapses.