Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela in early June 2024, causing widespread destruction and leaving thousands of people dead or injured [1, 2, 3].

The disaster has created a massive humanitarian crisis in regions around Caracas and other heavily affected towns. The scale of the devastation tests the capacity of the national government to provide emergency relief and recovery services during a period of intense public scrutiny.

Venezuelan authorities said that more than 2,600 people died [1]. However, other reports have cited different figures, including a death toll of 1,400 [6], more than 230 [4], and over 160 [5].

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez defended the government's response to the crisis. The administration continues to manage rescue operations as search teams sift through rubble in the hardest-hit areas [1, 3].

In addition to the fatalities, authorities said more than 12,000 injuries occurred [1]. The number of people still unaccounted for is estimated to be more than 38,000 [1], though other reports describe the figure more broadly as thousands missing [4].

International support has begun to reach the affected regions. Canada pledged $5 million in aid to assist with the recovery efforts [4].

The earthquakes were caused by tectonic activity [1, 3]. The resulting damage has devastated infrastructure and residential areas, leaving a significant portion of the population without stable housing, or access to basic services.

“More than 2,600 people died”

The wide discrepancy in casualty figures—ranging from 160 to over 2,600 deaths—suggests significant challenges in data collection and reporting within the affected zones. The high number of missing persons combined with the reliance on international aid indicates that the local infrastructure was unable to withstand the seismic event, likely exacerbating the long-term economic and social instability in the region.