Disasters & Incidents
Venezuelans mark one month since deadly tremors
Venezuelans across the quake zone and in Caracas held a minute of silence Friday to honor victims of tremors that struck one month earlier.
Dozens of rescue volunteers and relatives searching for family members paused their work at a destroyed building in Tanaguarena, La Guaira. Before the tribute at 6:04 pm, or 2204 GMT, a woman recited prayers and held rosary beads in front of a makeshift altar with toys and stuffed animals.
The tremors, reported at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck on June 24. They killed 5,546 people and injured almost 17,000, according to the source report. Many more people remain missing. Hundreds of buildings were pulverized and more than 23,000 people were left homeless.
Social media posts called on Venezuelans to join the silence, which took place around the worst-hit state of La Guaira and in squares across Caracas. Families and friends continue to search through wreckage.
Anyel Andrade, 32, said she was still looking for missing loved ones. She said she wanted families to pray for those who had died, and for those still believed to be in the ruins to be recovered. She said Venezuelans were unprepared for the seismic disaster and that it caught people by surprise.
During a military ceremony broadcast on television, interim president Delcy Rodriguez said the earthquakes made Venezuelans victims of nature. She praised the armed forces, saying they went out to assist people, rescue and save lives, and remained in affected areas.
The report said many Venezuelans have criticised the government's response to the disaster. On Friday, about 100 supporters of ousted president Nicolas Maduro burned American and Israeli flags in central Caracas and trampled on photos of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An AFP photographer at the scene reported that protesters chanted, "Gringos go home" and "This is not aid, it's an occupation."
Update
The tremors were reported as magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24.
The source reports 5,546 people killed, almost 17,000 injured, many more missing, and more than 23,000 people left homeless.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez said during a televised military ceremony that the earthquakes made Venezuelans victims of nature and praised the armed forces' response.
The source reports that many Venezuelans have criticised the government's disaster response.
About 100 pro-Maduro supporters burned American and Israeli flags in central Caracas and trampled on photos of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an AFP photographer.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 01:27:16 UTC.
Update
The minute of silence took place at 6:04 pm local time, 2204 GMT.
A woman recited prayers and held rosary beads before the tribute at a makeshift altar with toys and stuffed animals.
The June 24 tremors were reported as magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5.
The tremors killed 5,546 people, injured almost 17,000 and left many more missing.
More than 23,000 people were left homeless and hundreds of buildings were destroyed.
Anyel Andrade, 32, said she was still searching for missing loved ones and asked families to pray.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez said in a televised military ceremony that Venezuelans were victims of nature and praised the armed forces' response.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 00:59:34 UTC.
Update
The minute of silence took place at 6:04 pm, or 2204 GMT.
Dozens of rescue volunteers and family members paused at a destroyed building in Tanaguarena, La Guaira.
The June 24 tremors were reported at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5.
The tremors killed almost 5,400 people, injured almost 17,000 and left more than 23,000 people homeless.
A makeshift altar with toys and stuffed animals was present before the tribute.
Families and friends continued searching for loved ones under wreckage.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 22:45:02 UTC.
Update
The minute of silence was held across the quake zone and in Caracas.
The tribute honored victims of the tremors that struck the previous month.
AFP journalists observed the tribute.
Social media posts had called on Venezuelans to join in.
The tribute took place in several areas, including at a decimated building in La Guaira and in squares across Caracas.
The source describes La Guaira as the worst-hit city.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 22:22:01 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Many people are reported missing, but the source does not give a precise number.
The scale of criticism of the government's response is described generally, without a quantified measure.
Source
AFP news report published on .