Venezuelan authorities have confirmed that at least 1,719 people have died following the catastrophic earthquakes that struck on June 24. An additional 5,000 individuals are injured, and roughly 12,000 have been displaced across seven affected states.
The hardest-hit areas remain La Guaira state and the Distrito Capital of Caracas, where approximately 2,500 structures sustained damage, with many collapsing entirely. The search for survivors remains perilous; rescue teams have recorded around 500 aftershocks, including a recent 5.2 magnitude tremor.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Gianluca Rampolla reported that search operations have extended beyond the typical 72-hour window after rescuers continue to detect signs of life. More than 2,000 rescue workers from 27 countries, along with 160 search dogs, are currently operating on the ground. In anticipation of a rising fatality count, the UN and the government have agreed to secure 10,000 body bags.
Beyond immediate rescue, the UN is coordinating emergency healthcare, shelter, food, water, and sanitation. Three assistance centers are being established in La Guaira for displaced families. Vanessa May, head of OCHA in Venezuela, stressed that psychological support is just as critical as physical supplies, noting many survivors face the trauma of losing their homes.
Once search operations conclude, agencies will shift focus to debris removal and early recovery, specifically assessing damage to schools and hospitals. The organization is preparing a new emergency appeal, while officials warn the reconstruction and resettlement phase will require significant soil surveys and time.