Death toll rises in Venezuela following double earthquake
On June 24, 2026, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Venezuela, primarily affecting the city of La Guaira. As of June 28, the death toll has reached 1,430, with 3,238 people reported injured and over 3,000 left homeless. The disaster has triggered 430 aftershocks, complicating rescue efforts for tens of thousands of people whose status remains unclear. While early reports cited 920 deaths, official figures confirmed by Parliament President Jorge Rodriguez have since been updated. International aid has arrived, including 1,600 rescuers from 17 countries and U.S. humanitarian supplies delivered via the Simon Bolivar International Airport. Despite concerns over a lack of heavy equipment, search teams continue to recover survivors, including a 18-day-old infant found after 32 hours and a 15-year-old girl saved after 50 hours. The UN International Organization for Migration estimates that up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the catastrophe.