29/06/2026 12:04 - Internacionales
The death toll from the devastating earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026 has risen to at least 1,450 confirmed fatalities, according to official reports released on Monday, June 29. The humanitarian crisis continues to unfold: 3,150 people have been injured and approximately 70,000 remain missing as international rescue teams race against time in the hardest-hit areas.
La Guaira state, located on Venezuela's Caribbean coast just north of Caracas (the nation's capital), has suffered the most catastrophic damage. At least 774 buildings have been affected, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. A new 4.6 magnitude aftershock struck near La Guaira on Monday, causing panic among survivors and complicating rescue operations.
For context: La Guaira is a coastal state approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Caracas, serving as the main port and gateway to Venezuela's capital. Its proximity to the capital made it a densely populated area, which explains the high number of casualties.
Confirmed Deaths
People Missing
The earthquakes that hit Venezuela registered magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale. To understand the severity:
Argentina's Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno has confirmed that six Argentine citizens are among the deceased, while seven remain missing and four have been located alive. A humanitarian consular mission has been operating in Venezuela since Saturday, assisting Argentine citizens and helping families search for their loved ones.
Argentina has deployed 26 specialized military personnel, canine units, medical teams, two water purification plants, 134 tents, and 48 kitchen kits. The USAR ARG-12 brigade from the Argentine Federal Police and the USAR ARG-13 PUMA Brigade are now deployed in the most affected areas conducting search and rescue operations.
USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams are specialized units trained to locate and extricate victims trapped in collapsed structures.
She was rescued after being trapped for 86 hours under the rubble of the Breogan building in Caraballeda. She described using a piece of metal to bang against rocks to make herself heard: "Everything was black, I couldn't even see my hands." When rescuers found her, she cried out: "I'm here, I'm alive!" She said she felt she had been "reborn" upon emerging.
Rescued alive from the OPP 25 building in Tanaguarena, Caraballeda, thanks to the coordinated efforts of teams from Venezuela, Mexico, and El Salvador. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele celebrated the rescue as a "joint effort" demonstrating international solidarity.
Both were rescued after spending four days under the rubble in Caraballeda thanks to a joint operation by French and American teams. Both remained conscious and were transported to receive medical attention.
Rescued after 32 hours trapped in the rubble. Other notable rescues include a 9-month-old baby (by USA-01 US brigade), Moisés (11 years old, rescued by Colombian team from under 3 meters of rubble), and a 60-year-old woman (after 86 hours).
A total of 24 countries have sent humanitarian aid to Venezuela, deploying 2,741 international rescuers, 137 search dogs, and 84.4 tons of medical supplies. Participating nations include Argentina, United States, France, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, El Salvador, and Cuba.
| Country / Organization | Contribution |
|---|---|
| United States | $300 million USD in humanitarian aid (doubled from initial pledge) |
| China | 100 million yuan (approx. $14.7 million USD) |
| Pope Leo XIV | 100,000 euros |
| Caritas Spain | 300,000 euros |
| Real Madrid & Florentino Pérez | 1 million euros each |
The United States is channeling aid through organizations such as Samaritan's Purse, Catholic Relief Services, International Organization for Migration, UNICEF, World Food Programme, and the Red Cross. The aid provides emergency medical care, food assistance, water, sanitation, shelter, and logistical support.
At Caracas's main morgue, officially known as the National Service of Forensic Medicine and Sciences, authorities display photos of unidentified victims on computer screens while families attempt to recognize their loved ones. As of Sunday, 150 bodies remained unclaimed, including 130 that could not be identified.
Identification is particularly difficult because many victims were severely crushed under collapsed buildings. Forensic specialists use fingerprint recovery techniques, while families identify loved ones through distinctive features such as tattoos, moles, and even manicure styles.
The Caracas morgue receives between 40 and 80 bodies daily, while La Guaira processes approximately 750 bodies per day. Forensic doctors warn they may resort to mass graves if the death toll continues rising, though the Venezuelan Society of Infectology advises against this practice as it complicates identification.
Luis Antonio Guerra Ortega, a soccer coach, desperately searches for his goddaughter Valentina Pereira (14 years old), who showed signs of life on Saturday night. "My goddaughter showed signs of life last night. There's no one here right now, I don't understand," he said in front of the Costa Brava building in Los Corales, La Guaira.
Residents complain that no government aid has arrived and that they themselves provided the machinery for rescues. "There's an excavator that a neighbor brought," explained Guerra Ortega, who is also searching for his friend Fernando Pereira and his wife Eneida.
Residents created a website to register lost animals. So far, 911 pets have been reported lost, while 89 have been found but have not yet been reunited with their owners.
Residents have been leaving sacks of lime at morgues to help dry decomposing bodies, although doctors explained that international protocols prohibit applying it to human remains because it damages tissues.
Sources: Clarín | Infobae/The New York Times
Alfredo S. Quiroga
