Venezuela’s Devastating Double Earthquake

On June 24, 2026, Venezuela was struck by a devastating double earthquake. The twin 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude tremors left thousands dead and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. The coastal state of La Guaira was the hardest hit.

This page offers a summary of the terrible natural disaster, including long-term economic prospects and US imperialist encroachment. It also includes a list of fundraisers involving Venezuelan grassroots organizations.

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The human toll ↰

As of July 10, the death toll stood at 4,118, with more than 16,000 injured and more than 15,000 displaced families. Unofficial databases have placed the number of people missing at more than 40,000, though they are known to contain duplicates. Venezuelan authorities have yet to give a figure on how many are unaccounted for.

More than a week after the initial earthquakes, the chances of finding survivors grow ever slimmer. The over 4,000 foreign emergency workers working alongside more than 25,000 Venezuelans will now mostly focus on retrieving bodies and clearing debris from the disaster area.

The natural disaster struck Venezuela on top of more than a decade of US sanctions that devastated virtually every economic sector and pulverized state institutional capacities. Venezuela’s inability to purchase equipment or spare parts, as well as mass migration of qualified personnel, left it acutely vulnerable to a disaster of this magnitude.

Furthermore, since the January 3 US bombings and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, the US has imposed a regime of semi-colonial tutelage. The government led by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has reformed key legislation to favor Western corporations, while the White House currently controls Venezuelan export revenues, particularly from oil sales.

This scenario, coupled with a looming debt restructuring, is bound to deepen Venezuelan dependence on the US and further erode national sovereignty.

Venezuelan authorities reported 2,595 dead by July 2. (Rome Arrieche)

Tightening US stranglehold ↰

The Trump administration has exploited the natural disaster as an opening to expand its presence in Venezuela. After recent brazen military operations inside Venezuelan territory, Washington is now set to further entrench its foothold.

In the days after the earthquakes, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) coordinated a large military deployment including warships, helicopters, transport aircraft, and drones. SOUTHCOM Commander Francis Donovan revealed that 900 US military personnel were on the ground by the end of June.

Furthermore, US forces are now running logistics at two key transportation hubs: the La Guaira Port and the Simón Bolívar International Airport. Washington has positioned itself as a gatekeeper for the aid and reconstruction efforts to the detriment of Venezuelan sovereignty.

At the same time, the Trump administration has provided no substantive sanctions reprieve, issuing only a temporary license allowing earthquake relief-related transactions. Similarly, its offer of US $300 million in aid pales in comparison to $11-13 billion in frozen Venezuelan state assets, not to mention the US pilfering of an undisclosed portion of Venezuelan oil export revenues.

The USS Fort Lauderdale has docked in La Guaira port as US forces take control of aid logistics. (SOUTHCOM)

Ways to support ↰

The devastating earthquakes prompted Venezuelan popular organizations to spring into action, from directly taking part in disaster zone rescue work to setting up aid collection and distribution initiatives. Amid the heartbreaking tragedy, community spirit and solidarity have kept hope alive.

High-profile non-governmental organizations (NGO) and United Nations aid agencies immediately launched fundraisers for earthquake relief efforts. However, past experiences such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake have shown that donations do not always reach the people that they are supposed to help.

Below is a list of initiatives that we can vouch for, knowing that the resources will reach grassroots organizations and help the earthquake victims:

  • 5 de Marzo Commune: located in Caracas, it has set up a collection center and is coordinating aid deliveries to other communes in Caracas and La Guaira. Donate via Binance, ID 42852392.
  • Women for Open Source Software: a coalition of grassroots collectives created a collaborative, open-source platform to identify and coordinate emergency relief efforts. Visit their website (in Spanish) to learn more and donate here: https://venezuelaselevanta.info/donar
  • Corriente Comunes: the leftist group is running a shelter for 150 people in La Guaira. Information to donate via wire transfer can be found at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1YE4L6EtUV/
  • Fundalatin: the renowned Venezuelan human rights NGO is supporting affected communities and displaced families. It is receiving donations via Zelle: [email protected]
  • Code Pink and The People’s Forum: the solidarity collectives have set up emergency fundraisers and will work with popular organizations on the ground to support aid and reconstruction efforts. 

In images ↰

(Photos by Rome Arrieche)

In defense of the housing mission ↰

Immediately after the devastating earthquakes, corporate media outlets set their sights on Venezuela’s Great Housing Mission (GMVV), claiming that its buildings had been especially affected.

However, the evidence has shown that a very small percentage of damaged structures actually belong to the housing mission. No GMVV buildings collapsed in Caracas, while in La Guaira some housing complexes held up considerably well in heavily affected areas. The public housing initiative is not immune to malfeasance and cost-cutting, but these issues are no more serious than in the private real estate sector.

Launched in 2011 by former President Hugo Chávez, the program provided dignified homes to millions of Venezuelan families at next-to-no cost and became one of the flagships of the Bolivarian Revolution. It is par for the course that the media establishment went after it.