Disasters & Incidents
Venezuela quake survivors get psychological help
Mental-health teams are offering free psychological support to survivors of Venezuela's June 24 twin earthquakes, as people in hard-hit areas describe grief, sleeplessness and fear of returning to damaged homes.
Première Urgence Internationale has sent psychologists to shelters and outdoor gathering points, including in Tanaguarena, one of the areas hit by the disaster. Psychologist Alexander Apostol said many survivors are showing post-traumatic effects, including the feeling that the ground is still shaking, trouble sleeping and guilt over surviving when others died.
The latest government toll in the published account, reported by National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez, put the number of dead at 6,301. Around 190 buildings were destroyed or collapsed, and 856 more sustained damage. About 24,000 people were made homeless, according to an earlier government report.
Daniela Lopez, 40, said she lost four sons, her sister, her brother and her mother in the quakes, as well as her home. Her husband and neighbours pulled her from the rubble after three hours. Lopez said a counselling session helped, but that she wanted to remain near the rubble until her relatives were recovered.
Other survivors described fear of going back inside. Raissa Oropeza, 62, said she escaped physically unharmed with her three-year-old grandson but remained afraid to return to her second-floor apartment. In Naiguata, Cesar Rendon said talking with Apostol helped him "unburden" himself.
Experts cited in the existing account said loose soils and construction flaws worsened the disaster. Feliciano De Santis, president of the Venezuelan Geologists Society, said La Guaira's unconsolidated soils increased the severity of shaking. Engineer Kit Miyamoto said inspections showed serious construction weaknesses in some buildings.
The central government has not said how many people remain missing. La Guaira governor Jose Alejandro Teran said last week that around 1,400 people were still missing. Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has promised to deliver around 4,000 housing units this year.
Update
Première Urgence Internationale has sent psychologists to shelters and hard-hit areas to offer free mental health consultations.
Survivors described grief, sleeplessness, guilt and fear of returning to damaged buildings.
Daniela Lopez said she lost seven close family members and her home in the earthquakes.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 July 2026 at 17:59:52 UTC.
Update
Experts said tectonic positioning, loose soils and construction flaws contributed to the scale of damage from Venezuela's twin earthquakes.
Engineer Feliciano De Santis said unconsolidated soils in La Guaira amplified ground movement.
Japanese engineer Kit Miyamoto said inspections showed weaknesses in how steel reinforcement was connected to foundations.
Armando.info reported that discretionary contracts to companies with unknown experience contributed to damage.
The source says 856 more buildings sustained damage in addition to 190 buildings that collapsed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 August 2026 at 01:23:40 UTC.
Update
National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez said the death toll from Venezuela's June twin quakes had risen to 6,301.
The previous toll from August 3 was 6,125.
La Guaira Governor Jose Alejandro Teran said last week that around 1,400 people remained missing.
About 24,000 people were made homeless, many of them living in makeshift camps.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 21:50:09 UTC.
Update
Venezuela has not released an official missing-person total since the June 24 twin earthquakes.
The latest government report listed 6,125 deaths, 60,992 people who received medical care, 43,679 affected households and 346,755 tons of cleared debris.
Different estimates of missing or uncontactable people range from 1,338 to more than 40,000, with no reliable figure established.
A diplomatic source cited by AFP said an earlier UN estimate of more than 50,000 missing was incorrect and put the number at around 10,000 or more.
Families and volunteers are still searching collapsed buildings in La Guaira state.
Source note: AFP news report published on 6 August 2026 at 17:01:59 UTC.
Update
Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez said around 400,000 homes could benefit from the new rental law.
Rodriguez previously pledged to provide 4,000 homes to quake victims by the end of the year, with a government aim to exceed 10,000 in 2027.
The rental measure repeals anti-rental legislation passed by former Chavista administrations.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 August 2026 at 23:08:10 UTC.
Update
Local media have quoted La Guaira Governor Jose Alejandro Teran as saying around 1,400 people remain missing.
Expert projections have put the missing-person figure at up to 10,000, while the government has not otherwise disclosed a figure.
Authorities have classified 6,433 structures as high-risk and 9,866 as restricted housing.
Almost 24,000 people in La Guaira and Caracas are living in makeshift shelters.
Venezuelan lawmakers unanimously approved a law to make renting properties easier for displaced quake victims, pending enactment by interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 August 2026 at 22:03:42 UTC.
Update
National Assembly Chief Jorge Rodriguez said the June 24 Venezuela earthquakes killed 6,125 people.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 August 2026 at 21:31:47 UTC.
Update
The Venezuelan government said the death toll from the quakes had risen past 6,000.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 August 2026 at 21:17:45 UTC.
Update
Official figures say the June 24 twin earthquakes killed more than 5,500 people, injured almost 17,000, collapsed 190 buildings and damaged 856 more.
Soldiers used dynamite to demolish a partially collapsed 12-storey residential tower in La Guaira.
Rescue teams and family members are still searching rubble in La Guaira for victims and relatives.
The government has not disclosed a missing-person figure.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 21:09:39 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Death toll figures differ by timing: the new item cited more than 3,600 deaths, while the existing published story cited a later government figure of 6,301.
The exact number of missing people remains unresolved in the supplied material.
Source
AFP news report published on .