A wounded man, shirtless and visibly cut on his head and torso, received medical assistance right on the street while recounting how his home crumbled around him during the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. The organization Vente DDHH released the survivor's account this Tuesday from Catia La Mar in the state of La Guaira, where an estimated 30% of structures were reported destroyed according to data from the European Copernicus program.
"The floor collapsed," stated the man, whose home was completely obliterated. Footage captured on La Marina's Main Street shows the middle-aged man, with a shaved head and graying beard, being treated for his wounds by someone in medical gloves, surrounded by rubble and fallen structures.
The seismic double blow on June 24—two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, occurring merely 39 seconds apart with epicenters in the state of Yaracuy—marks the most powerful seismic event recorded in Venezuela since 1900, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Catia La Mar, a coastal city located a short distance from Maiquetía airport, was among the hardest hit areas: buildings like the Nautilus and Playamar were reduced to debris.
The scale of the disaster continues to escalate. The Venezuelan government confirmed on Monday that 1,719 people have died, with 5,034 injured, 15,866 displaced, and more than 22,000 receiving treatment in hospitals and triage centers. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, provided these figures, although the UN estimates up to 50,000 people are missing and a total of 6.76 million affected.
The citizen platform Encuéntralos reported even more alarming figures: between 55,000 and 60,000 people missing, with only about 9,000 located at the time of publication.
A NASA satellite analysis using Sentinel-1 radar data estimated that nearly 59,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed nationwide, though the agency clarified that the assessment "should be considered an indicator, not a building-by-building census." The USGS issued a Red Alert—their highest level—and calculated a 42% probability that the final death toll could fall between 10,000 and 100,000.
Among the affected are dozens of Cubans. At least 32 compatriots were still missing in Caraballeda, Catia La Mar, and Los Corales. A Cuban family of six perished under the debris in La Guaira, including a six-year-old child. Vanessa Martínez, a young girl, was also confirmed dead on Monday, while her brother Dayan remained missing.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimated the direct damages from the earthquakes at $6.7 billion, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela's GDP, with a potential total impact ranging from $10.05 to $20.1 billion. The quakes struck an infrastructure already deteriorated by decades of mismanagement under the Chavista regime, exacerbating the widespread collapse of buildings throughout the coastal region.
A 4.6-magnitude aftershock shook the area on Monday, with no new fatalities reported, while rescue operations continued amidst the rubble of one of the worst natural disasters in Venezuelan history.
Impact and Aftermath of Venezuelan Earthquakes
What was the magnitude of the earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24, 2026?
The earthquakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, occurring just 39 seconds apart.
How many people have been reported dead and injured due to the earthquakes?
As of the latest reports, 1,719 people have died and 5,034 have been injured.
What are the estimated economic damages caused by the earthquakes?
The UNDP estimated the direct damages at $6.7 billion, with a potential total impact ranging from $10.05 to $20.1 billion.
How has the infrastructure been affected by the earthquakes?
Nearly 59,000 buildings have been estimated as damaged or destroyed, further worsened by the already deteriorated infrastructure due to decades of poor governance.