Fatalities at 1,719 and rising after earthquakes in Venezuela
Published 26th June 2026
Following the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on the evening of Wednesday 24th, Doctors of the World has activated an emergency response and is mobilising operational teams.
The earthquakes, 39 seconds apart and both surpassing magnitude 7.0, have impacted several states across the country, with 3.2 million affected in Caracas alone. 1,719 people are confirmed dead and many more are injured. The city of Caracas and the state of La Guaira were severely affected, with widespread power and communications failures. Health facilities and critical infrastructure were significantly damaged.
Doctors of the World has been present in Venezuela since 2019, delivering community health programs and carrying out humanitarian action. After the earthquakes struck, homes, infrastructure, and basic services were significantly damaged. Our teams have carried out an initial needs assessment in the areas most affected, such as La Guaira state where many have been displaced, and are working in coordination with the Ministry of Health, local authorities, humanitarian organisations, and international agencies to ensure the response is effective.
“Right now, our priority is to support people affected by this emergency, especially the most vulnerable. Our teams are gathering information on the ground to deploy necessary assistance as quickly and effectively as possible”
Elena Cáceres, Coordinator for Doctors of the World in Venezuela.
Within the aftermath of Wednesday’s earthquakes, our teams have identified several key needs. These include rapid search and rescue operations of people trapped in the rubble, emergency medical care, and the construction of emergency shelters and safe zones. Some people are living in vehicles, parks, and other temporary locations after losing their homes, so ensuring their access to basic services and primary care is essential.
Alongside this, the priority remains of supporting health facilities to continue functioning at their operational level; this includes providing primary healthcare, mental health, sexual and reproductive health and access to medicine. The distribution of prescribed medicine, treatment of minor injuries and psychosocial support to impacted families are further critical needs.
With the current progression of this disaster, the number of people affected is likely to escalate. Our operational teams are scaling capacity, to continue the humanitarian response. They are preparing staff and resources to work alongside affected communities to protect their health, well-being, and access to services. Our colleagues on the ground in Venezuela have confirmed that emergency funds have been rapidly mobilised and security protocols are active. We are continuing to recruit doctors, nurses and emergency staff to meet the needs of the people injured and still missing.
We’re calling on the international community to support response and recovery efforts, ensuring that humanitarian aid is delivered rapidly, in a coordinated manner, and based on the population’s urgent needs.
