Two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela in quick succession just after 18:00 local time (23:00 BST) on 24 June 2026. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed 39 seconds later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake.

The earthquakes struck near Yaracuy state and were felt across much of Venezuela and neighbouring countries, with tremors reported as far away as the Brazilian Amazon.

The disaster caused widespread destruction, with buildings collapsing in several cities, including the capital, Caracas, trapping residents beneath the rubble.

Venezuelan authorities launched large-scale search-and-rescue operations immediately after the earthquakes, deploying emergency teams across the affected regions as crews worked around the clock to locate survivors.

More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, while the magnitude 7.5 quake was the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than 125 years.

As rescue efforts continue, families are still searching for missing relatives. Colombia n-Venezuelan national Moises Leonel Perez travelled from Bogotá to Venezuela's Caribbean coast after losing contact with his mother following the June 24 earthquakes. Perez, who moved to Colombia in 2018, returned to Venezuela to help search for her after repeated attempts to reach her failed.

Twelve days after the disaster, Venezuelan authorities said the earthquakes had killed 3,535 people , injured 16,740 others and left more than 17,000 people homeless, with recovery and rescue operations continuing across the affected regions.

Panama has collected more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian assistance for victims of the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, as the government intensifies its regional relief effort. President José Raúl Mulino said the country had already dispatched a first aircraft carrying 18 tonnes of emergency supplies, while additional donations continue to arrive at collection centres nationwide. The aid includes non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene products, medicines, flashlights, batteries, mattresses and other emergency supplies requested by Venezuelan authorities. Panama is also preparing to deploy a 60-member search and rescue team, led by the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC), with four search dogs, drones and thermal imaging equipment. The initial mission is expected to last seven days, but could be extended depending on conditions on the ground.

María Corina Machado alleges air blockade prevented entry into Panama

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has accused authorities of preventing her from travelling to Panama by imposing what she described as an "air blockade" designed to stop her participation in an international event. Speaking remotely from Venezuela, Machado claimed the restrictions formed part of broader efforts to isolate opposition figures and limit their international engagement. She argued that the measures were politically motivated and aimed at restricting democratic participation ahead of Venezuela's continuing political crisis. The allegations have added to growing international concern over political freedoms and freedom of movement for opposition leaders. Panamanian officials have not been accused of imposing the restrictions themselves, with Machado directing her criticism at Venezuelan authorities.

Authorities issue rough sea warning for Panama's Caribbean coast

Panama's Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (IMHPA) has warned residents and visitors to exercise caution along the Caribbean coast due to rough sea conditions expected over several days. Forecasts indicate stronger winds and higher waves that could affect beaches, fishing operations, small vessels and recreational activities. Authorities advised the public to avoid unnecessary sea travel, follow instructions from local emergency services and pay attention to updated weather bulletins. The warning comes during a period of changing regional weather patterns that frequently generate hazardous marine conditions across the Caribbean basin. Emergency officials also reminded beachgoers to avoid swimming in areas without lifeguards and urged small fishing boats to carefully assess conditions before leaving port.

Morocco donates fertilisers to strengthen Panama's family farming sector

Panamanian farmers have received the first shipment of fertilisers donated by Morocco under a bilateral cooperation programme aimed at strengthening family agriculture and improving national food security. The initiative is expected to benefit small-scale producers by reducing production costs while improving crop yields. The donation forms part of expanding agricultural cooperation between the two countries and supports Panama's broader strategy of increasing domestic food production. Officials said access to fertilisers has become increasingly important following global supply disruptions and rising input prices that have affected agricultural producers worldwide. Authorities believe the programme will particularly benefit rural communities by improving productivity, supporting household incomes and increasing the resilience of Panama's agricultural sector.

Panama detects foreigners working without permits and labour violations

Mitradel carried out 218 inspections nationwide last week to verify labour standards, workplace safety and legal hiring practices. The operations, led by Minister Jackeline Muñoz, included checks on labour conditions, occupational safety, child labour and labour migration. Inspectors found 10 foreign nationals working without permits, with seven cases referred for administrative proceedings. Violations included missing protective equipment, poor hygiene and safety conditions, lack of employment contracts, unpaid labour obligations and irregular hiring of migrant workers.

The mission comes as rescue operations continue in the hardest-hit regions, where homes and infrastructure have been severely damaged. Colombian authorities said the deployment is part of a humanitarian response aimed at assisting Venezuela’s emergency services and helping locate those still missing.

Heavy machinery worked through piles of concrete while volunteers formed human chains to remove debris by hand from collapsed buildings in Los Palos Grandes.

One of the worst-hit sites was the 14-storey Petunia I residential tower, which local reports said collapsed floor by floor before being reduced to a compact pile of rubble. At least 17 residents were rescued from the building.

Families remained gathered near the scene, hoping for news of loved ones still trapped beneath the debris.

"We are waiting for a friend of mine who lived in that building, and they still have not managed to get him out with his daughter," said Alejandro Castillo.

He appealed for support for families who lost everything in the disaster.

"We have to join hands and help those people who were left on the street," he said.

Marisol Rojas, who survived one of the collapses, recalled the moment the building began to fail.

"We saw how the building was falling, how it compressed. A slab fell on me from up here. It hit me, and all I told them was, 'Run!'" she said.

Authorities urged residents not to return to damaged buildings until engineers completed structural inspections.

According to the latest official figures released by Venezuelan authorities, at least 235 people have been killed, more than 4,300 injured and 157 remain missing. Around 200 people are also believed to still be trapped beneath the rubble across the affected areas.

Her uncle said the family had suffered multiple losses in the disaster.

“I lost relatives here today. Everything happened very fast, the three apartments were blown away, the whole street, the whole block is reduced to rubble. Thank God they are rescuing a niece, she is the only one we have alive right now,” he said.

The rescue followed hours of coordinated efforts by specialised emergency teams and volunteers working at the site.

Search-and-rescue operations remain underway across La Guaira, where numerous buildings have suffered partial or complete collapse. Authorities continue to deploy heavy machinery, canine search units and specialised rescue personnel in an effort to locate more survivors.

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said on Thursday that the death toll had risen to 188, with 1,520 people injured. He added that 157 people remain missing and another 200 are still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures.

“We are here accompanying our people in the search and rescue of people who were trapped by structures and buildings that collapsed. We are accompanying the families; we extend our solidarity and hope to recover as many people alive as possible,” she said.

Authorities have identified La Guaira as one of the hardest-hit areas, with extensive damage reported to hotels, homes and tourist buildings. Rescue teams continue to search through the rubble for survivors.

Rodríguez also announced that Venezuela had requested international assistance to strengthen rescue operations.

“We have requested international help. The first rescuers arriving from the Dominican Republic are already about to land, and in the coming hours, others will arrive from the rest of the countries of the international community,” she said.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within seconds of each other. The first measured magnitude 7.2, followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. The epicentres were located near Morón, west of Caracas, at shallow depths.

Emergency authorities continue to assess the damage as search-and-rescue operations remain underway in the affected regions.

Rescuers stabilised the girl at the scene before taking her to a nearby medical centre, where she remains under medical observation.

Her mother, Alexandra Pedrero, described the moment the building collapsed.

“This was something unexpected. And when the tremor started,  I couldn't figure out how to come asking for help, so they could bring me. And when I looked, I saw my daughter trapped,” she said.

Local media reported that several people had been rescued alive from collapsed buildings as search-and-rescue operations continued in Caracas and other affected areas.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within seconds of each other. The first measured magnitude 7.2, followed by a stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake. Both were centred near Yumare, close to the Montalbán-Morón area in Carabobo state, at shallow depths.

The earthquakes were felt across Caracas and several north-central states, prompting residents to evacuate buildings and causing damage to offices, residential buildings and other structures.

Venezuela’s seismological agency, FUNVISIS, urged residents to rely on official information as the risk of aftershocks remained.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said emergency incidents had been reported in Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Trujillo and La Guaira.

According to the latest update by interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, the death toll has climbed to 164, with nearly 1,000 injured, compared to preliminary official figures, which reported 32 killed, and about 700 were injured after authorities warned that casualty figures could rise as rescue operations and damage assessments continue.

Venezuela last experienced a similar-magnitude earthquake in 2018, when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake centred near Sucre state was felt across parts of the Caribbean and South America .

“Today, at around 18:00 in the evening, two earthquakes occurred in succession, the first a 7.2 and immediately afterward a 7.5. By this hour, 20 aftershocks have already been recorded,” she said.

“It is an event with serious consequences, and there are states that are particularly affected. In the capital city, Caracas, there were building collapses in different parishes, the state of Miranda, and the state of La Guaira. The states of Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcon, where we have had impact, have also been severely affected.”

The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquakes at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, with epicentres near Morón, approximately 160 kilometres west of Caracas.

The USGS issued a red alert through its Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system, indicating the potential for severe humanitarian impacts. The agency estimated that fatalities could eventually range between 10,000 and 100,000 based on the intensity of the shaking, population exposure and the vulnerability of affected buildings.

Rodríguez later confirmed that at least 32 people had been killed and more than 700 injured, warning that the number of casualties could increase as search and rescue operations continue.

Emergency authorities have deployed specialised search-and-rescue teams to affected areas to search collapsed buildings, while residents have been urged to remain outdoors because of continued powerful aftershocks.

UPDATE :

Authorities said at least two people were killed in the earthquake, while four others were injured. Three people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

Around 7,000 residents were evacuated from affected areas following the quake.

Officials also reported that 51 fire and rescue vehicles and a total of 315 emergency personnel were deployed to the disaster zone to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.

Search teams continue to inspect damaged buildings and clear rubble in the affected areas.