Facts about the Venezuela earthquake

What is happening in Venezuela?

On Wednesday 24 June, 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela near Caracas. The earthquakes occurred within seconds of each other and triggered widespread shaking across the country. Authorities continue to assess the full impact as search-and-rescue operations and damage evaluations remain ongoing.

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Fast facts about the earthquake
What is it like for people affected?
How is the earthquake affecting children?
How is World Vision responding to the earthquake?
What can you do to help survivors?

Fast facts: 2026 Venezuela earthquakes

Two earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession on 24 June 2026 just after 18:00 local time (23:00 BST).
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake was followed 39 seconds later by a stronger 7.5 magnitude quake
The earthquakes struck near Yaracuy state and were felt across Venezuela and beyond, as far as the Brazilian Amazon.
Buildings have collapsed, including in the capital city, Caracas, leaving people trapped beneath rubble.
Venezuelan authorities launched search-and-rescue operations across affected areas as emergency crews worked through the night.
Over 20 aftershocks have already been recorded.
At the time of writing, at least 164 people have died and more than 30,000 are reported missing. Some of the hardest-hit areas are still being assessed, and the number of people affected is expected to rise.
This is the strongest earthquake in Venezuela in over 125 years

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What is it like for people affected?

Many families are living in a state of fear and anxiety.

María Andreína Pernalete, a resident in Caracas and communications manager for World Vision in Venezuela, described the moment the earthquake hit.

“We are deeply shaken and frightened… We hugged each other and prayed… it was truly shocking.” Her home has been damaged, forcing her family to leave. “We had to move to a nearby convent… we can’t go back inside.”

Luis Colmenarez, who lives in Barquisimeto, Lara, 4 hours from Caracas, was at the cinema watching Toy Story 5 with his younger sisters. He describes scenes of panic.

“Everything went dark and everything started to shake… people began running… children were screaming in fear… The shaking lasted between two and three minutes. It felt endless.”

Many families are now sleeping outside, afraid to return to damaged buildings as aftershocks continue.

A photo showing collapsed buildings and rubble in Venezuela. — Collapsed buildings leave communities devastated in the aftermath of the earthquake

How is the earthquake impacting children?

Children are among the most vulnerable in disasters like this.

Even before the earthquake, many families in Venezuela were already struggling.

79 million people needed humanitarian assistance.
Over 90% of households faced shortages in basic services.

Now, the earthquake is likely to further disrupt children’s access to education, increase risks to safety and protection and limit access to food, clean water and healthcare.

For children, the impact goes beyond the immediate crisis, affecting their safety, wellbeing and future.

How is World Vision responding?

World Vision has been working in Venezuela since 2019, supporting work in all 23 states through 300 employees and 2,000 churches and community volunteers.

With a strong local presence and trusted community networks, essential support can reach children and families quickly when it’s needed most.

In response to the earthquakes, World Vision has immediately activated its incident teams. Current actions include:

Monitoring conditions across affected regions.
Coordinating response efforts between teams in Venezuela and Colombia.
Gathering information on community impacts and humanitarian needs.
Preparing for emergency response activities as assessments are completed.

"We are in constant contact with our staff in the affected areas to assess their situation, provide the necessary assistance, and ensure they have the support they need,” says Peter Gape, World Vision’s National Director for Colombia and Venezuela.

“We offer our prayers for all those affected by this earthquake and reaffirm our commitment to respond with solidarity, hope, and compassion in the face of this emergency.”