Lead

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24, triggering a humanitarian crisis as rescue teams worked through the night in the capital Caracas and other affected areas. The twin tremors, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck approximately 40 seconds apart, collapsing buildings, shutting the country’s main airport, and sending residents fleeing into the streets. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency late on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the disaster has varied significantly in casualty figures and the scale of destruction, reflecting the rapidly evolving situation. In the immediate aftermath, authorities reported at least 32 people killed and more than 700 injured, a figure cited by both Al Jazeera and TASS in their breaking news coverage. However, within days, official statements painted a far grimmer picture. Deutsche Welle reported that Rodriguez announced at least 164 deaths and 971 injuries early on Thursday, while TASS later cited her saying that more than 2,295 lives had been lost. Al Jazeera, in a later update, quoted Rodriguez confirming that more than 2,500 people were dead.

The discrepancies in death tolls highlight the challenges of verifying data during an ongoing emergency, as search and rescue operations continue and remote areas remain inaccessible.

Key claims

Casualties and injuries

Reported death tolls have ranged from 32 to over 2,500, depending on the timing and source. Al Jazeera reported that Rodriguez confirmed more than 2,500 deaths, while Deutsche Welle cited her early estimate of at least 164 dead and 971 injured. TASS, citing the latest reports, put the death toll at 2,295. Injury figures have also varied, from more than 700 to at least 971.

Damage and destruction

According to TASS, Rodriguez said that over 855 buildings were damaged by the earthquake, including 127 that were razed to the ground. Al Jazeera reported that 80% of the buildings that collapsed in the back-to-back earthquakes were privately developed. The quakes also shut the country’s main airport and suspended metro and rail service in the capital, as reported by Al Jazeera and TASS.

La Guaira devastation

TASS quoted Rodriguez as saying that practically all officials from the Venezuelan state of La Guaira, the worst-affected area, had been killed. She said that heads of many agencies in La Guaira died, and that nearly all officials in the state perished. Authorities quickly set up a field hospital in La Guaira in the aftermath, according to Deutsche Welle.

Aftershocks and epicenters

The earthquake struck on the evening of June 24. Two series of tremors with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 were recorded approximately 40 seconds apart, with epicenters located about 10 km apart in Venezuela’s Yaracuy state, according to TASS. Deutsche Welle noted that the main pair of quakes' epicenters were located fairly far to the west of Caracas, near the city of San Felipe, but some smaller aftershocks were much closer to the major population center. Rodriguez said that the two earthquakes were followed by over 800 aftershocks. The twin quakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, in a country where major seismic events are relatively rare compared with other parts of Latin America, as reported by Al Jazeera.

State of emergency and government response

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency late on Wednesday, as reported by Al Jazeera and TASS. She warned early on Thursday that the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched collapsed structures and attempted to reach remote areas. TASS reported that the Venezuelan government will announce its economic measures aimed at rebuilding the country on July 3.

International assistance

Russia will promptly review any request for assistance from Venezuela following the earthquake, should one be made, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, as reported by TASS. Peskov said that only a few hours had passed since the tragedy and that the number of victims was likely much higher than figures then reported. Deutsche Welle reported that both Germany and the European Union offered Venezuela help after the devastating earthquake.

Perspectives

Venezuelan government

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has been the primary official communicating casualty figures, damage assessments, and government actions, including the declaration of a state of emergency and plans for rebuilding. Her statements have provided the most detailed information on the disaster's impact, though figures have evolved considerably over time.

Russian government

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed readiness to consider any request for assistance from Venezuela, indicating a supportive stance from Moscow, while cautioning that the scale of the tragedy was still unfolding.

European Union and Germany

Both the EU and Germany have offered help to Venezuela following the earthquake, according to Deutsche Welle, signaling international solidarity with the affected country.