Venezuela Earthquakes: What You Need to Know

Just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, two earthquakes hit Venezuela in rapid succession. Members of our in-country team, headquartered in the capital city of Caracas, immediately deployed to the affected area. The long- and short-term effects of these earthquakes are likely to be severe. Here is what we currently know.

Why Were the Earthquakes in Venezuela So Devastating?

Venezuela experienced two powerful earthquakes in quick succession (known as a “severe seismic doublet sequence”), with both originating from the same location: near San Felipe, a city of more than 200,000 people some 90 miles from Caracas. The first quake, called a foreshock, measured at 7.2 in magnitude, and the second, called a mainshock, occurred 39 seconds later and measured at 7.5—making it the largest of the 11 earthquakes to hit Venezuela since a 7.6-magnitude quake shook the country in 1900. In a typical year, only 10 to 15 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher occur worldwide.

Earthquakes in Venezuela: 1900–2026

* Moment magnitude: The contemporary scale by which scientists measure an earthquake’s size and energy.

** Surface-wave magnitude: A scale that measures the height and width of an earthquake’s energetic transmissions during a 20-second cycle.

Where Did the Earthquakes Hit?

The quakes originated along the San Sebastian fault system, which spans Venezuela’s northern coast. The powerful and lengthy ground movement, which devastated the coast of La Guaira state, was powerful enough to be felt in the Amazon rainforest, more than 1,000 miles from the epicenter.

The earthquakes caused widespread and severe structural damage across Aragua, Carabobo, Caracas, Falcón, La Guaira and Miranda states in Venezuela. Power outages have been reported in Barquisimeto, Caracas, Coro, Maracay, Mérida, Nueva Esparta, San Cristóbal and Valencia states.

What Kind of Damage Did the Earthquakes Cause?

The quakes caused significant infrastructure damage, displacing thousands. Venezuela has declared the entire state of La Guaira a disaster zone. Our in-country team reports that many people remain trapped under debris and collapsed buildings. Several health facilities have completely collapsed, and the remaining hospitals are overwhelmed with mass casualties. In less than 24 hours, the number of daily emergency calls received by one health facility in La Guaira skyrocketed from 10 to 20 to more than 300. Patients are being treated in makeshift areas outside, some lying on the ground, because there is no available space inside. Many of the community members our team spoke with have lost loved ones—some have lost their entire families.

In Caracas, more than 200 miles from the epicenter, authorities shut down Venezuela’s main airport, suspended public transit services and shut off natural gas supply, while the Ministry of Education canceled classes while converting some schools to shelters and donation-supply centers. Across the affected areas, roads, electricity, water and telecommunications have been damaged and disrupted.

The earthquakes may cause an economic loss of as much as 10% of Venezuela’s GDP, experts say.

What Are the Humanitarian Needs?

People urgently need fundamental services. Priority items include medicines, medical equipment and supplies, food, clean water and hygiene materials. The situation is especially dire in the hardest-hit areas, and immediate support is critical. Families and children in affected areas will need medical care, psychosocial support, hygiene products and clean water.

What Has the Response Been So Far?

The Venezuelan government, which has declared a state of emergency, has begun immediate rescue-and-recovery efforts, with ordinary citizens helping however they can—including digging their neighbors out of the rubble.

International governments and NGOs have already pledged support to reconstruct Venezuela’s damaged infrastructure and health facilities. The US, which has mobilized $150 million in assistance, has deployed search-and-rescue teams and medical resources, including 71 people and six canines from Los Angeles County Fire Department. International Medical Corps has conducted initial damage assessments and is coordinating with responders to provide humanitarian assistance quickly to the people who need it most.

What experience does International Medical Corps have responding to earthquakes?

International Medical Corps has extensive experience responding to earthquakes in countries around the world. Recent responses include Afghanistan and the Philippines—as well as the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015.

What Is International Medical Corps Doing to Help?

Our rapid-response teams deployed immediately after the quakes to Caracas and La Guaira, where we assessed how best to fill the gaps in healthcare needs. To meet those needs, we are deploying a mobile medical unit (MMU), and will continue to deploy MMUs as recovery efforts proceed, providing health facilities and communities with much-needed staff, services and supplies. International Medical Corps also will distribute emergency hygiene kits, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities in need.

To address the critical lack of clean water in La Guaira, International Medical Corps will implement a clean-water delivery program, helping to ensure consistent access for community members and healthcare facilities.

How Can I Help the People of Venezuela?

People and organizations that want to quickly help can contribute to our earthquake response. Given our experience providing a wide range of health-related services and training in Venezuela since 2019, working in close collaboration with local officials and emergency responders, we are well-positioned to provide rapid assistance to people affected by these devastating quakes.

Learn more about our work in Venezuela and our response to the earthquakes.