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Venezuela earthquakes toll rises to 920, UN aid chief says over 50,000 missing

Scroll | June 27, 2026 12:40 PM CST

The toll from the twin powerful earthquakes in Venezuela increased to 920 on Friday, AFP reported.

More than 50,000 people were missing, United Nations Humanitarian Affairs chief Tom Fletcher told the news agency.

At least 3,300 persons were injured, BBC quoted a state broadcaster as having reported.

On Friday, the country’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez said that 589 persons had died and nearly 3,000 were injured.

The two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the South American country on Wednesday. Videos posted on social media showed several collapsed buildings and damage at the airport in the capital city of Caracas. Operations were underway to rescue persons trapped under the debris.

The La Guaira region near the capital was the hardest-hit, the country’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez said.

The epicentres of both the quakes were close to Caracas, the United States Geological Survey said.

The first quake occurred at 6 pm local time at a depth of nearly 22 km. The second struck a minute later at a depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes tend to be more destructive.

The “doublet” earthquake was the most powerful to occur in the region in 126 years. There were several aftershocks.

The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and said that the Maiquetia airport in Caracas would close following “serious damage”.

Several countries have sent assistance to Venezuela. Rescue...