A twin earthquake affected the Capital District and the states of Carabobo, Yaracuy, Cojedes, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

On Wednesday, a twin earthquake measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Venezuela’s north-central coastal region at around 6 p.m. local time. The epicenters, located in the states of Carabobo and Yaracuy, generated a shock wave that strongly impacted the Capital District and the states of Cojedes, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

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On Thursday, Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed a preliminary toll of 188 deaths, nearly 1,000 people injured, 157 people missing, 200 people trapped, 2,927 families affected, 250 buildings damaged, 8 hospitals affected, and 20 shopping centers damaged.

Faced with the imminent danger of further collapses and following the recording of more than 100 aftershocks, the national government ordered the creation of a special committee for structural recovery.

The National Emergency System remains deployed in coordination with governors’ offices and municipal governments to immediately open shelters for displaced families.

The following is an account of the devastation caused by the earthquakes based on the information available and confirmed to date.

La Candelaria: Open Spaces and Institutional Shelter Amid the Chaos

In Plaza La Candelaria, located in central Caracas, hundreds of residents decided to spend the night outdoors with mattresses, tents and sheets. Luciano Cardenas, a supervisor with Fundapatrimonio, said state institutions responded swiftly by making available the services and facilities of the sanctuary honoring Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez. Firefighters, the Red Cross and Civil Defense monitored the area, which experienced severe disruptions to telephone networks.

Cardenas, who said his own sister lost her home in Ciudad Caribia, emphasized the importance of calm community leadership to prevent disorder from overtaking the population.

The main facade of the parish church sustained minor material damage, allowing civilian crews to begin cleanup operations at 7:14 a.m. local time. Local residents reported a tense calm and significant uncertainty due to fears of aftershocks, often requiring mutual assistance to evacuate.

Chacao: Intensive Drilling Operations and Grief at Collapsed Structures

In the Chacao municipality, more than 150 members of Venezuela’s Humanitarian Task Force are carrying out advanced operations to gain access to older residential structures.

Heavy machinery removed debris laterally from a 14-story residential building that completely collapsed onto the public roadway. The municipal police chief confirmed 11 deaths in the jurisdiction and the successful rescue of 22 survivors in stable condition.

Rescue crews worked exhausting shifts attempting to free a woman trapped within sections of a staircase beside the body of her deceased sister.

In the same area, the mothers of two young people ages 21 and 24 expressed profound anguish while waiting for their children to be located in air pockets on the second floor. Authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of neighboring buildings because of foundation failures and the risk of imminent collapse.

San Bernardino: Public Solidarity and Technical Search for Survivors

In San Bernardino, in northwestern Caracas, a multi-story residential building completely collapsed during the afternoon earthquake.

Firefighters and Civil Defense teams are drilling through reinforced concrete and navigating damaged steel reinforcements in an effort to locate survivors. At least 13 people have been extracted from the affected residential building.

Specialists are concentrating their efforts on rescuing two people who remain trapped beneath lower concrete slabs, conducting load assessments of the site to prevent further movement.

Las Minas de Baruta: Community Organization Rescues Entire Family

In the community of Las Minas de Baruta, east of Caracas, residents prevented a greater tragedy following the collapse of a multifamily home.

The earthquake caused the complete collapse of a two-story residential structure, trapping seven members of the same family inside.

Neighbors reacted in a coordinated manner minutes after the disaster, removing concrete blocks and rescuing all of the victims.

Local resident Jose Miguel Arrieta said that even older adults actively participated in the rescue chains.

The injured were initially stabilized at the local clinic before being transferred to the appropriate health centers for specialized medical treatment.

During Thursday morning, residents remained at the site recovering personal belongings and clearing damaged electrical lines.

La Guaira: Massive Collapse Along Jose Maria España Avenue

The state of La Guaira is facing a scene of widespread devastation along Jose Maria España Avenue due to the collapse of multiple buildings.

The earthquake coincided with June 24 celebrations marking the Battle of Carabobo and the feast of St. John the Baptist, resulting in a large concentration of people in the area. Rescue workers pulled four survivors and one pet from the remains of a six-story building.

Residential complexes in the Caribe development suffered catastrophic structural damage, leaving them virtually reduced to rubble. Rescue teams intensified the use of specially trained dogs to search for air pockets on the lower floors of commercial areas along the coast.

Public health networks remain on constant alert, coordinating the transfer of seriously injured patients to medical centers in the capital.

Caraballeda: Domino-Effect Destruction Across Residential Complexes

In the parish of Caraballeda, the 10-story Coral Mar residential building and the 12-story Bahia Mar residential building collapsed simultaneously, causing their concrete structures to merge horizontally.

Migleidys Silva, a resident of the Alto Blanquita de Perez sector, witnessed the collapse of the towers from her home. She said the collapse generated dense clouds of dust and a strong burning smell that spread across the main avenue.

On Wednesday night, community organizations began searching for survivors in an effort to rescue a neighbor identified as Daniela Romano. Firefighters arrived in the coastal area near midnight and confirmed the recovery of one survivor and one deceased person from the debris.

Although the structure was functioning temporarily as vacation lodging, community representatives estimate that about 10 families lived permanently in the affected apartments.

#Venezuela | Following the devastating seismic event in Venezuela on June 24th, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced that the government is receiving vital support from countries across the globe. Rescue teams and specialized personnel are arriving from the Dominican… pic.twitter.com/pcCGSB5Svo

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) June 25, 2026

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