A pair of massive earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, killing at least 164 people and triggering an immediate U.S. offer of assistance.
The two quakes hit within seconds of each other Tuesday evening, with the first — a magnitude 7.2 — occurring at 6:04 p.m. EST, followed one minute later by an even stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor at 6:05 p.m. EST. Both were centered in northern Venezuela, a region that includes the capital, Caracas. Beyond the confirmed death toll, approximately 971 people were reported injured, according to CNN. Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez cautioned that the fatality count remained incomplete, noting that several hard-hit surrounding regions had yet to be fully accounted for.
La Guaira Among the Hardest Hit
The coastal state of La Guaira bore some of the most severe destruction. The New York Times reported that 100 buildings were destroyed there during the quakes. Simón Bolívar International Airport — located in La Guaira and commonly known as Maiquetía Airport — was forced to shut down in the aftermath. Video footage from inside the airport captured the intensity of the shaking as it unfolded.
Me han pasado este vídeo del Aeropuerto de Maiquetia. dios mío… pic.twitter.com/sSH0yboQVP
— Said Rahal (@srahalh) June 24, 2026
A pair of powerful earthquakes rocked Venezuela, tearing down buildings, closing the country’s main airport and sending panicked residents of the capital pouring into the streets. At least 146 have died, the acting president said Thursday, warning that the toll was expected to… pic.twitter.com/byaOua2DuE
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 25, 2026
New terrifying video shows structures collapsing all around in Caracas, Venezuela. #terremoto pic.twitter.com/gn05DxsTCm
— Luke Brenner (@TheLukeReport) June 24, 2026
Este video se va poniendo peor mientras avanza. #TerremotoenVenezuela pic.twitter.com/4LqCoL84kc
— Yisus (@SoyJesusTarre) June 25, 2026
U.S. Response and Search Teams Deployed
President Donald Trump responded to the disaster in a post on Truth Social, published after his “America Is Back” kickoff rally for the Great American State Fair. In it, he wrote that the United States would be ready to help, stating, “We will be there for our new and great friends.” The gesture carries notable diplomatic weight given that the U.S. conducted a military operation in Venezuela just over six months earlier, arresting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday, June 25, that the U.S. was already moving resources into the country. “I had an opportunity to talk earlier this morning with Delcy Rodríguez, the acting President,” Rubio said. “We’re already deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles.”
SECRETARY RUBIO: “I had an opportunity to talk earlier this morning with Delcy Rodríguez, the acting President. We’re already deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles.” pic.twitter.com/Ptvxg8u5ms
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 25, 2026
The USA-01 Urban Search and Rescue team, based out of Fairfax, confirmed on X that it had mobilized an 80-person team along with six dogs to support search efforts on the ground. With the death toll still expected to rise and multiple affected regions not yet fully assessed, the scale of the disaster remains in flux.
