Missing-person reports exceed 35 000 as death toll from Venezuela earthquake doublet rises to 164

ByRishav Kothari

Missing-person reports exceeded 35 000 after a rare and deadly earthquake doublet struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, killing at least 164 people and injuring nearly 1 000 others.

The doublet in Venezuela began with an M7.2 foreshock at 22:04 UTC (18:04 LT) on June 24, followed just 39 seconds later by a M7.5 mainshock at 22:05 UTC.

The USGS reported depths of 20 km (13 miles) for the foreshock and 10 km (6 miles) for the mainshock. EMSC reported the foreshock as M7.1 at a depth of 10 km (6 miles) and the mainshock as M7.5 at a depth of 35 km (22 miles).

The M7.5 mainshock was the strongest earthquake to strike Venezuela in more than a century, exceeding the magnitude of the M6.6 Caracas earthquake in 1967 and marking the country’s largest event since the M7.7 earthquake of 1900.

A State of Emergency was declared in by acting President Rodríguez, who confirmed early Thursday that at least 164 people were reported dead, while 971 others were injured as a result of the earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks. Over 100 buildings were destroyed in Caracas alone, according to local media reports.

A website set up by local politicians to track missing people shows over 35 000 missing reports at 16:45 UTC on June 25. The number of missing reports was rapidly rising, with over a thousand people being reported in under 15 minutes between 16:30 and 16:45 UTC.

Initial reports had confirmed 32 fatalities, but in less than 24 hours, the death toll rose to more than 100 and is expected to continue increasing as search and rescue operations continue. USGS estimates show a 42% probability of more than 10 000 deaths due ot the quake.

“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” Rodríguez said at 05:00 UTC on June 25. Building collapses have been confirmed in Caracas, Trujillo, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, and La Guaira.

Houses collapsed near the quake’s epicenter ​in Morón, a small seaside town in the state of Carabobo, where there was no water or electricity. Three children were among at least eight killed in the area, municipal mayor Emily Riera told Reuters.

Rodríguez also confirmed that she is coordinating with the United Nations to deploy rescue personnel and with the International Monetary Fund to establish an initial relief and redevelopment fund of USD 200 million. Multiple countries have already sent monetary aid and rescue teams to Venezuela.

Northern Venezuela has a history of large and damaging earthquakes. However, only seven M6.0 or stronger earthquakes have occurred within 250 km (155 miles) of the June 24 earthquakes over the past century, according to the USGS.

The region experienced another earthquake doublet in September 2025, when M6.2 and M6.3 earthquakes struck west-southwest of the 2026 events. That sequence caused at least 1 fatality, more than 110 injuries and extensive structural damage across Zulia and Lara states.

An M6.4 earthquake struck east-northeast of the June 2026 epicenters in September 2009, injuring 18 people and damaging buildings near Morón. An M6.0 earthquake in 1989 caused slight damage in the Valencia area, while an M6.1 earthquake affected the broader region in April 1975.

The most damaging modern earthquake in the surrounding region was the July 1967 M6.6 Caracas earthquake, with the epicenter approximately 131 km (81 miles) east of the June 2026 sequence. It caused about 240 fatalities, injured hundreds of people, collapsed multiple high-rise apartment buildings, and caused widespread destruction.

Across northern Venezuela and nearby offshore areas, five M7.0 or stronger earthquakes have occurred since 1900.

References:

1 Rescuers searching rubble after Venezuela’s strongest earthquake since 1900 – BBC – June 25, 2026

2 Missing Venezuela earthquake – DTV – Accesses at 16:45 UTC on June 25, 2026

3At least 164 people dead after twin quakes in Venezuela, acting president says – CNN – June 25, 2026

4 Thousands feared dead in Venezuela after two major earthquakes – Reuters – June 25, 2026

Feature image credit: Felipe Galli

Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

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