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Venezuela: Red Cross responds as needs emerge in the aftermath of powerful back-to-back earthquakes

Caracas/Panama City/Geneva, 25 June 2026 — Two powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela on the evening of 24 June, less than a minute apart: a 7.2 magnitude foreshock at around 6:04 p.m. local time, followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5 magnitude mainshock, with epicentres in the Yaracuy region, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).The earthquakes caused structural collapses and damage to homes and businesses in Caracas and across several states, with particularly serious impact reported in La Guaira and Greater Caracas. National authorities have declared a state of emergency, suspended classes and non-essential activities, ordered preventive evacuations, activated search-and-rescue operations and set up reception centres for people affected, while hospitals receive the injured.Power, telecommunications and transport have been disrupted, and critical damage has been reported to essential health and transport infrastructure, leaving public services intermittent or interrupted in some areas. Damage assessments remain preliminary, and the full human impact is not yet known while strong aftershocks are posing additional risks to affected communities and to the teams responding.The Venezuelan Red Cross is operational and responding. Its nationwide network of hospitals and polyclinics remains active and continues to deliver care. The National Society has activated rescue teams to support evacuation and search efforts and deployed four assessment teams overnight to carry out rapid evaluations in the worst-affected areas, while mobilising prepositioned relief supplies. Although it has reported critical damage to its own National Headquarters, the Venezuelan Red Cross is accounting for the safety of its staff and volunteers, activating security protocols and sharing earthquake safety guidance with communities — even as many of its volunteers respond while facing this emergency in their own neighbourhoods.While assessments continue, the most urgent anticipated needs are search and rescue, emergency shelter for families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and emergency health care, including trauma care and psychosocial support. Safe water and sanitation and essential household items are also expected to be priorities in the hours and days ahead. With communications disrupted and many families separated, Red Cross Societies in Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Argentina — countries home to large Venezuelan communities — have already activated their restoring family links services, helping people search for news of their loved ones.The International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies is activating its response mechanisms, including its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), as more information becomes available.Available content of the Venezuela Red Cross response:Photo collection: https://shared.ifrc.org/collections/~965823c921Video:https://x.com/CruzRojaVe/status/2070015232089420141For more information and to arrange interviews, contact: [email protected] PanamaSusana Arroyo +507 69993199In GenevaTommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 4367 | Paolo Cravero +41 79 894 83 96

Venezuela earthquakes: IFRC launches emergency appeal to assist 300,000 people and dispatches first 17 tonnes of humanitarian cargo

Caracas / Panama City / Geneva 26 June 2026 — Fewer than forty-eight hours after two strong earthquakes struck Venezuela, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an Emergency Appeal for 50 million Swiss francs. Money raised will support the Venezuelan Red Cross in assisting 300,000 people seriously hit. The initial focus will be on La Guaira and Greater Caracas, where the destruction is most severe."These quakes have been devastating for the people of Venezuela," said Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the IFRC. "Tens of thousands of lives have changed forever. IFRC and Venezuelan Red Cross teams responded immediately; the value of having local teams, permanently in place, has already become clear. But a disaster of this scale cannot rest on local shoulders alone. We call on the international community to support our emergency appeal, providing support over coming days and for the long road ahead."This morning, the first 17 tonnes of humanitarian supplies are leaving the IFRC's regional humanitarian hub in Panama, via Tocumen International Airport, bound for Venezuela. The cargo includes kitchen sets, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and other essential items.The Venezuelan Red Cross has been working around the clock — carrying out search and rescue, physical and and psychological first aid, restoring family links and damage assessments — even though its own volunteers are among those affected. Its National Headquarters has been critically damaged and some volunteers have lost their homes. The Venezuelan Red Cross’ national network of hospitals, clinics and ambulance services is helping to support an overwhelmed health system.The IFRC released two million Swiss francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) a few hours after the disaster. This IFRC Emergency Appeal seeks additional resources for the Venezuelan Red Cross to deliver emergency shelter and health care, including the setting up of field hospitals in the worst-affected areas. It will also allow for mental health and psychosocial support, safe water and sanitation services, the distribution of essential relief items and cash assistance, and the restoration of family links and protection services.With communications disrupted and many families separated, and because large Venezuelan communities live across the region, National Red Cross Societies in ten countries (Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina) have activated restoring family links services to help people find news of their relatives.For more information and to arrange interviews, contact: [email protected] Panama:Susana Arroyo, +507 69993199In Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367Paolo Cravero, +41 79 894 83 96

Venezuela earthquakes: IFRC dispatches emergency field hospital; supports Venezuelan Red Cross distribution of humanitarian relief kits

Caracas / Panama City / Geneva 06 July 2026 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is continuing to scale up its response to the recent earthquakes in Venezuela and its support to the Venezuelan Red Cross in delivering humanitarian assistance to people affected by the unprecedented disaster.The IFRC dispatched an emergency field hospital to La Guaira over the weekend (July 5), in partnership with the Spanish Red Cross, which also provided doctors and other health professionals. The emergency field hospital can provide primary health care to 30,000 people and will be fully operational in the coming days. It can also support maternal and infant care, vaccinations, epidemiological and nutritional surveillance, and mental and psychosocial support, and can accommodate up to 20 patients for overnight observation. Mobile health clinics will also begin operating to reach affected people and help ensure healthcare access for the communities we serve.This emergency field hospital will support the Venezuelan Red Cross's existing field hospital, which has been operating since the crisis began. This field hospital has already treated hundreds of trauma cases in the days following the twin earthquakes and is now increasingly providing primary care and psychosocial support to affected people.In addition to these health services, the Venezuelan Red Cross, supported by the IFRC, is distributing relief items in affected areas, such as the San Martín Parish in Caracas in a school where families are sheltered after their homes were damaged by the earthquakes. Relief items included hygiene kits, cleaning kits, sleeping kits, water filters and jerrycans. This is part of the 36 tons of humanitarian aid dispatched to Venezuela from IFRC humanitarian hubs in Panama and Argentina.The scaling up of health services and aid distribution comes as search-and-rescue activities slow down. As the crisis evolves, so do the health needs of affected communities. In the first days after the earthquakes, the focus was on emergency care. Current assessment identifies mental and psychosocial support, primary and maternal health, prevention, and safe water and sanitation as key to this transition phase of the humanitarian response.The IFRC calls on the international community, donors and partners to support the emergency appeal so affected communities in Venezuela can receive the full scope of life-saving assistance they urgently need.IFRC spokespeople are available for interviews from Caracas and can facilitate media reporting on the response in Caracas and La Guaira, including the humanitarian situation, relief efforts, humanitarian needs and the need for continued international support in the weeks ahead.For more information or to set up an interview contact: [email protected] In Venezuela:Paolo Cravero, +41 79 894 8396 In Panama: Susana Arroyo Barrantes, +507 6999-3199 In Geneva: Scott Craig, +41 76 370 3575 

Venezuela: Earthquake 2026

Two powerful earthquakes have struck Venezuela, severely affecting Gran Caracas and La Guaira, and causing widespread destruction across the capital and surrounding areas. The Venezuelan Red Cross is on the ground, carrying out search and rescue operations, assisting the injured, and assessing urgent and growing needs.IFRC has launched an emergency appeal to support the response activities of the Venezuelan Red Cross. Donations are made to the IFRC, which will channel resources to its member National Society and ensure accountability for their use.Donate today to help IFRC and VRC scale up their response and bring life-saving assistance to those who need it most.