Seven-day national mourning declared in Venezuela following deadly earthquakes
On June 24, 2026, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Venezuela, causing widespread destruction primarily in the coastal region of La Guaira. The official death toll reported by parliamentary officials ranges between 1,943 and 2,295, with over 11,000 people injured. Approximately 50,000 individuals remain missing, and the UN has raised concerns regarding potential disease outbreaks and critical food shortages. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has declared seven days of national mourning to honor the victims. While search and rescue operations are ongoing, experts note that the critical 72-hour survival window passed on June 27. Despite the grim outlook, rescuers recently recovered a three-year-old child and a 23-year-old woman alive from the debris in Los Corales. NASA reports that approximately 58,870 buildings have been damaged or destroyed across the affected areas.