29/06/2026 12:33 - Actualidad
On Sunday, June 29, 2026, the Argentine government confirmed that six Argentine citizens lost their lives due to the powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. In response to the catastrophe, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno announced the deployment of a humanitarian consular mission to provide direct assistance to affected compatriots.
The delegation, composed of two diplomatic officials, arrived in Venezuelan territory on Saturday with the goal of assessing the needs of the Argentine community. As of now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received 215 requests for assistance and seven requests to locate missing persons.
For international readers, it's important to note that Javier Milei is the current President of Argentina, having taken office in December 2023. His administration represents a significant shift in Argentine foreign policy toward a more assertive stance against authoritarian regimes in Latin America.
Diplomatic relations between Argentina and Venezuela were severed in 2024 following a major crisis involving the asylum of Venezuelan opposition figures at the Argentine embassy in Caracas. Additionally, Argentine gendarmerie officer Nahuel Gallo was detained in Venezuela for 448 days before being released in March 2026.
Since the departure of Argentine personnel in 2024, the diplomatic headquarters in Caracas was under Brazilian representation until January of this year. Subsequently, Italy was requested to mediate, a process never formally approved by the government of Delcy Rodríguez (Venezuela's Vice President).
This humanitarian deployment forced the Milei administration to reestablish communication channels with the Venezuelan government after nearly two years of broken diplomatic relations. The gesture demonstrates that humanitarian emergencies can transcend political differences.
Foreign Minister Quirno detailed that the envoys have already established contact with Argentines who reported the loss of family members and with elderly citizens receiving assistance through Cáritas Venezuela (a Catholic charity organization). The earthquake's epicenter was registered in the La Guaira region, one of the areas hardest hit by the seismic activity.
La Guaira is a coastal state in northern Venezuela, located approximately 30 kilometers from Caracas (the nation's capital). It's a densely populated region with significant residential and commercial infrastructure, making it particularly vulnerable to seismic events.
Caraballeda, mentioned in rescue operations, is a coastal city within La Guaira state, known for its beach resorts and residential areas.
This earthquake represents one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Venezuelan history. The international response involves 24 countries, demonstrating global solidarity in times of crisis.
The presence of Argentine rescuers in Venezuelan territory marks the first official bilateral cooperation since the diplomatic rupture, signaling a potential thaw in relations driven purely by humanitarian necessity.
Despite the time elapsed, rescue teams continue to find survivors:
Source: La Voz | Additional information: International news agencies
Alfredo S. Quiroga
