Venezuela earthquakes death toll sharply rises as crews search for survivors

The death toll after a doublet of devastating earthquakes in Venezuela soared to more than 900 as crews worked for the third day on June 26 to comb through rubble for signs of life.

The quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck within one minute of each other on June 24 just after 6 p.m. local time, about 14 miles southeast of Yumare, Venezuela, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Yumare is about 173 miles west of Caracas, the nation's capital.

Immediate devastation followed. Homes and buildings collapsed, hospitals were damaged and debris was strewn through roadways.

Officials said at least 920 people were confirmed dead and thousands of people were injured as of June 26. The toll could continue to rise.

Here's what we know on June 26.

Rescuers search for missing

Rescue crews continued their search overnight on June 26 for any survivors amid the rubble of destroyed buildings as international rescue teams arrived in the country to help. Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela's national assembly, said June 25 that at least 200 people were trapped. More than 800 international rescuers had arrived by the afternoon of June 26, he said.

Resident Yamileth Jimenez told Reuters on June 25 her 19-year-old son was trapped on the seventh floor of a building in La Guaira, among the worst-affected areas.

"He's under the slabs and there's no machinery to get him out," she told the outlet.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was among the countries planning to send rescue teams.

2 earthquakes strike within seconds

The first earthquake struck at about 6:04 p.m. local time on June 24 with a magnitude of 7.2. Then, about 39 seconds later, a 7.5 quake followed. The second quake is considered the mainshock, while the first was a foreshock, USGS said. The quakes are considered a doublet, defined as two earthquakes of similar magnitude that happen close in time and location.

Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate. While northern Venezuela has a history of damaging earthquakes, the USGS said there have only been seven quakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or higher in the last century in the immediate area of the June 24 quakes. There have been five earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.0 or greater in broader northern Venezuela or near its coast since 1900.

The mainshock on June 24 was the most powerful earthquake in the region's history since 1900, when a 7.7 hit near Caracas.

What is the latest death toll in Venezuela?

As of June 26, lawmaker Rodriguez said the death toll stood at 920 people. That figure could continue rising as crews search devastated areas. The USGS said its data predicted a toll that could reach into the thousands.

Another 2,980 people were injured, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said earlier on June 26.

Spain has confirmed three of its citizens died in the quakes, while four were known to be trapped in rubble and 99 were unaccounted for.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Venezuela earthquakes death toll sharply rises as crews search for survivors

Reporting by Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 6:58 PM.