La Guaira Disaster
La Guaira Declared Disaster Zone Following Double Earthquakes Devastating Venezuela
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A devastating double earthquake struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, killing at least 589 people and injuring nearly 3,000 more, according to Univision. The coastal state of La Guaira — the hardest-hit area — was declared a disaster zone by Interim President Delcy Rodríguez in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The two quakes struck just 39 seconds apart. The first, a magnitude 7.2, hit at 6:04 p.m. local time. Then a stronger magnitude 7.5 mainshock followed immediately, according to USGS. Seismologists say the rapid sequence was especially deadly: the first quake weakened buildings before the second brought them down completely.
39 Seconds That Turned La Guaira to Rubble
The two quakes occurred at the intersection of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, involving the Boconó and San Sebastián fault systems. The Guardian reported it is the strongest seismic event in Venezuela since the 1900 San Narciso earthquake. At least 250 high-rise buildings suffered total or catastrophic collapse. In La Guaira, a 15-story residential tower was completely leveled.
Over 140 aftershocks were recorded in the first 48 hours, according to Univision. Maiquetía International Airport was closed due to structural damage. Power outages and communications blackouts hit Caracas and the coast within minutes of the first strike. More than 49,500 people have been reported missing through the official government portal.
Old Buildings and a 39-Second Warning: Why So Many Died
Experts point to aging construction as a key cause of the high death toll. Most collapsed buildings in La Guaira were built before Venezuela adopted modern seismic codes in 1982, according to Northeastern Global News. They used "non-ductile concrete" — a material that cracks and crumbles rather than bending under stress. Seismologist Lucy Jones told Associated Press the quake combined massive force with densely packed residential zones.
Residents in La Guaira have openly criticized the pace of official help. Dayana Delgado told SFGATE that neighbors were "digging with bare hands" while government machinery stayed in Caracas. Local volunteer fire brigades and private citizens performed the bulk of early rescues while waiting for state resources to arrive, The Guardian reported.
U.S. Leads International Relief as Venezuela's New Government Faces Its First Crisis
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who took power after Nicolás Maduro's removal in January 2026, declared a national state of emergency before dawn on Thursday. "We are engaged in the arduous task of rescuing the lives that God allows us to save," she said, according to El País. The disaster is the first major test of her government's ability to lead and to work with Western nations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that Washington is "immediately deploying search teams" at President Trump's direction, according to AP News. Search and rescue teams from Switzerland and the Netherlands also began mobilizing by Thursday morning. In total, 17 countries have pledged teams or medical supplies as of Friday, according to The Hindu.
Economic Damage Could Reach $100 Billion With Most Losses Uninsured
Early estimates put economic losses between $10 billion and $100 billion — as much as 7% of Venezuela's GDP — according to BNamericas. The Port of La Guaira and the El Palito refinery reported slowdowns due to power failures, Reuters reported. Venezuela's main Orinoco oil fields were largely unharmed, but grid damage could interrupt exports to key buyers like India.
Insurance analysts at Gallagher Re warn that the vast majority of the damage is uninsured, according to S&P Global. That places the full reconstruction burden on the state and international donors. The UN estimates up to 6.8 million people could be impacted by the emergency, with tens of thousands likely to be permanently displaced from high-risk coastal zones, according to UN News.
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