Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 25, 2024, causing widespread destruction and leaving tens of thousands of people missing [1], [2].
The disaster represents a massive humanitarian crisis for the region, as the scale of the missing population threatens to overwhelm local and international emergency response capacities.
The seismic activity occurred along the Caribbean-South American plate boundary, generating two major shocks with magnitudes of 7.1 [1] and 7.5 [1]. The epicenters were located near the cities of Morón and San Felipe, approximately 300 km from Caracas [1].
Rescue teams from around the world have joined local efforts to find survivors. In many devastated areas, residents are digging through rubble with their bare hands to locate victims [2].
Casualty reports vary across sources. MSN Italia reported 589 deaths [4] and 2,980 injuries [6]. However, Venezuelan Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said the death toll has reached 235 [3].
The scale of the disappearance is the most critical concern for authorities. According to reports from MSN Italia, more than 50,000 people remain missing in areas devastated by the June 25 quake [3].
International aid continues to flow into the affected regions as search-and-rescue operations prioritize the most heavily damaged urban centers. Teams are currently listening for voices trapped beneath the debris of collapsed buildings [2].
“Sono oltre 50 mila le persone ancora disperse in Venezuela”
The disparity in death toll reports, ranging from 235 to 589, suggests a chaotic reporting environment typical of large-scale disasters where communication infrastructure is destroyed. With over 50,000 people missing, the final casualty count is expected to rise significantly as rescue teams access more remote or heavily damaged zones near Morón and San Felipe.
