Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971 others in the deadliest seismic disaster to hit the South American nation in over a century. The twin quakes, centered near the coastal town of Morón roughly 100 miles west of Caracas, sent shockwaves across the Caribbean region and triggered temporary tsunami warnings for parts of the Caribbean Sea.
The first earthquake, a 7.2 magnitude foreshock, struck at approximately 6 p.m. local time. Less than one minute later, a far more powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake followed, making it the largest seismic event to strike Venezuela since a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in 1900. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed the death toll and described the devastation as catastrophic, noting that many buildings across the capital had been reduced to rubble.
The destruction in Caracas was extensive, with numerous residential and commercial structures collapsing under the force of the back-to-back tremors. Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country's main aviation hub, sustained significant structural damage and has been closed to all flights. Widespread power outages plunged large swaths of the country into darkness, while mobile phone networks experienced severe disruptions, hampering communication and rescue coordination efforts.
The earthquakes struck during a baseball game at Estadio Universitario de Caracas, where players and stadium officials fled to center field as the ground shook violently beneath them. Footage from the stadium captured the terrifying moments as spectators scrambled to evacuate while the facility swayed under the seismic force. Across the city, residents poured into the streets in panic, many unable to return to damaged buildings.
The international community responded swiftly to the disaster. The United States State Department mobilized a disaster assistance team, announcing plans to send search and rescue teams along with medical and humanitarian supplies to the affected areas. Israel also confirmed it would be dispatching an emergency response team. U.S. President Trump commented on the situation, describing the deaths as devastating and expressing concern for those affected by the earthquakes.
Rescue operations are now underway across the hardest-hit areas, with emergency workers searching through collapsed structures for survivors. The full extent of the destruction remains unclear as authorities continue to assess damage in remote areas where communication lines have been severed. International aid organizations are mobilizing resources, and neighboring countries have offered assistance as Venezuela faces what is expected to be a long and difficult recovery process.
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