Venezuela earthquakes updates: 3-year-old boy pulled out of rubble after 6 days

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening.

ByKevin Shalvey and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 4:18 PM EDT

At least 1,943 people have died and another 10,571 people were injured from a pair of powerful earthquakes that devastated Venezuela, officials said.

The two quakes -- a 7.2 magnitude one followed just seconds later by a 7.5 -- struck the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, knocking down buildings in Caracas, the capital, and sending residents racing into the street.

Responders are still undertaking rescue operations, searching for people thought to be under the rubble.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Jun 25, 2026, 4:16 PM EDT

State Department mobilizes $150M for Venezuela

The State Department says it will mobilize $150 million in assistance for Venezuela and stand up a task force to coordinate the distribution of that assistance.

Neighbors comfort Gabriela Rojas, center, as she mourns in front of her damaged home, where two of her children died during earthquakes that struck La Guaira, Venezuela, June 25, 2026.
Pedro Mattey/AP Photo

Neighbors carry a man rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building a day after earthquakes struck La Guaira, Venezuela, June 25, 2026.
Pedro Mattey/AP Photo

The Department of Defense is expected to assist in the response by leveraging military assets already in the region and deploying personnel to “accelerate the delivery of life-saving assistance,” the State Department said, adding that it will also leverage aircraft to help U.S. government personnel, the search and rescue teams, and partners get into place so they can "assess damage, find the injured, and deliver critical life-saving assistance."


-ABC News’ Shannon Kingston

Jun 25, 2026, 2:16 PM EDT

Death toll climbs to 188

At least 188 people are dead and another 1,520 are injured following the two devastating earthquakes, according to Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela.

People search for casualties amid the rubble of collapsed buildings, in the aftermath of earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, June 25, 2026.
Maxwell Briceno/Reuters

Rescue teams from the U.S., Mexico, Spain, Qatar and the United Nations are a heading to Venezuela to help, Rodríguez said.

At least 2,927 families have been impacted, Rodríguez said, and he called for people to remain at home.

Jun 25, 2026, 1:32 PM EDT

How to help the victims

Click here to learn about some of the organizations helping those affected by the earthquakes.

Residents walk among the rubble of building damaged in earthquakes the previous day in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, June 25, 2026.
Pedro Mattey/AP Photo
Jun 25, 2026, 1:05 PM EDT

Quakes may become most devastating in Venezuela's modern history

The two powerful earthquakes may become the most devastating in Venezuela's modern history.

A man inspects a collapsed apartment building following an earthquake in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, 30km north-west of Caracas, June 25, 2026.
Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images

Venezuela sits along the Caribbean plate. It is not part of the infamous Ring of Fire that snakes around the Pacific Ocean, where earthquakes -- especially of higher magnitude -- are relatively common.

An earthquake of this high a magnitude causes so much damage in a place like Venezuela because Venezuela’s infrastructure is not as prepared as countries along the Ring of Fire, like Japan.

Residents walk through the rubble of damaged apartment buildings following the twin 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck the country, in Catia la Mar, Venezuela, June 25, 2026.
Ronald Pena/EPA/Shutterstock


The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the death toll will likely go over 1,000 and potentially could exceed 10,000.

-ABC News’ Kenton Gewecke

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