It was a public holiday marking the feast day of Saint John, the Battle of Carabobo, and the official arrival of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. For many, it was a day meant for beach outings, music, and celebrations.

Then, at 6:04 p.m., in the late afternoon heat, the earth shook. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake took communities in La Guaira — a coastal port nestled beneath the mountains — completely by surprise.

Just 39 seconds later, as people were beginning to recover from the initial shock, a second, even stronger quake struck, measuring 7.5 in magnitude. Residential towers, hotels, community centres, and local businesses collapsed, trapping thousands beneath the debris. 

Unbeknownst to many at the time, these were the strongest earthquakes recorded in Venezuela in over a century and the most catastrophic disaster in its recent history. 

A month has passed since that tragic day. Nearly 5,000 people have lost their lives, more than 16,000 have been injured, and thousands remain missing. Almost 23,000 people are still living in temporary shelters.

This disaster will leave a lasting mark on the economic, social, and emotional fabric of these communities, and addressing their needs has been at the very heart of the IFRC's response from the outset.

On 5 July, an Emergency Response Unit (ERU) clinic from the Spanish Red Cross arrived in La Guaira. Operating as a field hospital, it was deployed to reinforce the healthcare services established by the Venezuelan Red Cross over a four-month period.  

Equipped to serve up to 30,000 people, the clinic provides primary care, maternal and child healthcare, vaccinations, epidemiological and nutritional monitoring, and mental health support, alongside a 20-bed overnight observation ward. 

As the weeks progress, managing chronic conditions has become just as urgent as treating acute injuries. Without consistent care, the risk of life-threatening complications surges, placing further strain on an already overburdened healthcare system. 

Addressing the community's mental health is equally vital. Beyond trauma and grief, less visible symptoms — such as insomnia, loss of appetite, and severe anxiety — have emerged across all age groups as an entire population grapples with the loss of loved ones, their homes, and their sense of safety.  

Among those receiving care is Gabriel Cipriani. Although he managed to rescue his wife and son, Gabriel tragically lost his sister and nieces, along with all his essential medication. He describes the heavy physical and emotional toll, compounded by grief and uncertainty, that hangs over his family and community. 

At the Red Cross emergency clinic, Gabriel has received both medical treatment and psychological support to help him cope with his overwhelming loss: 

"When you arrive at the Red Cross hospital, you are immediately reassured: ‘How are you feeling? Stay calm, we’re here to talk to you, and we’re taking care of you.’ There might be 30 emergency cases waiting, and all 30 are being cared for.

"I arrived while having a seizure and was given immediate medication. Dr. Daphne made me feel completely at ease. She told me, ‘Stay calm. You’re not alone. We’re here for you.’ She gives you a real sense of security and trust."

Our goal is to expand and complement the public response system, not replace it. To this end, we will soon be adding mobile clinics to reach the most isolated communities. 

Protecting people from outbreaks: epidemiological surveillance

One month on, the primary public health threats are no longer buried under rubble; they stem from the challenging living conditions facing displaced families, who lack guaranteed access to safe drinking water and live in overcrowded shelters with limited sanitation. 

Joint teams from the Spanish Red Cross and the Venezuelan Red Cross are carrying out assessments in these areas to anticipate health hazards and detect respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses early. Many of these health issues are directly linked to unsanitary conditions and clean water shortages.  

This continuous surveillance, coordinated closely with local authorities and partner organisations, is critical to preventing a secondary health crisis.  

Bringing families together 

When the earthquakes struck, countless families were left agonizingly unaware of their loved ones' fates. As buildings collapsed, communication lines went down, amplifying the tragedy with the harrowing uncertainty of missing children, parents, or siblings. 

In response, National Red Cross Societies across eleven countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay) activated their Restoring Family Links (RFL) services.  

Today, the Venezuelan Red Cross is handling thousands of tracing requests from individuals seeking relatives both within the country and abroad. 

Crucial support isn’t always visible 

In the immediate aftermath, the Colombian Red Cross, supported by the German Red Cross, reinforced operational telecommunications by installing radio equipment and repeaters to improve network coverage and coordination across high-priority search and rescue zones.  

The newly established antenna covers much of Caracas and La Guaira, linking to additional repeaters extending to Maracay. This infrastructure enables seamless communication among response units deployed across La Guaira, Caracas, and surrounding regions. 

Because in an emergency, reliable communication saves lives. 

Beyond communications, Red Cross teams continue conducting damage and needs assessments, operating water treatment plants to supply humanitarian agencies, and distributing sanitation kits alongside thousands of litres of clean drinking water to affected families.