Fatalities at 200 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. 235 are confirmed dead and hundreds more injured.
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 operational staff began conducting a rapid needs assessment in coordination with local organisations, affected communities, and other humanitarian actors to identify response priorities.
“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.
Delivering immediate psychosocial support for families and communities affected remains a critical priority. We are rapidly restoring basic health services, to urgently treat the people affected, and re-establishing water services.
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.
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.
