It took only a few seconds for the lives of thousands of people in Venezuela to change. The earth shook violently, the lights went out, the streets filled with voices and families found themselves searching for their loved ones in the middle of the night.
Strong earthquake in Venezuela: The earth shook, people in the rubble and a country counts its wounds
Report: Greek News FL
June 25 2026
Venezuela woke up to fear, dust and sirens. Two powerful earthquakes, within a short space of time, hit the north of the country and caused scenes of panic in Caracas, La Guaira and neighboring areas. Buildings collapsed, streets filled with people running for their lives, while rescue teams are fighting against time to locate those trapped under the rubble.
According to the Associated Press, the two earthquakes occurred on the evening of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and had magnitudes of 7,2 and 7,5 on the Richter scale. The USGS said the first earthquake struck west of Morón, on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers west of Caracas, while the second, stronger earthquake was recorded shortly afterwards, centered southwest of Morón.
The toll so far is heavy. At least 164 people have lost their lives and nearly 1.000 have been injured, Authorities fear the death toll could rise as people are still trapped under the rubble. Reuters reported that relatives of missing people were desperately searching for information, while rescuers worked through piles of concrete, iron and destroyed homes.
The most difficult images come from La Guaira, north of Caracas. There, according to the AP, the damage is particularly severe. The country's main airport was damaged and closed, while residents described buildings that buckled, streets littered with debris and families who spent the night outside, fearing more aftershocks.
In Caracas, residents took to the streets in panic. Some held children in their arms, others searched for elderly relatives, while people waited outside hospitals and public buildings to find out if their loved ones were alive. ABC News reported that crews responded to collapsed buildings in the Altamira and Palos Grandes neighborhoods, while photos and videos showed rescuers searching through the rubble.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared emergency situation and called on companies to make heavy machinery available for rescue operations. According to the AP, rescue teams are moving to the hardest-hit areas, while international teams with experience in operations inside destroyed buildings have also been requested.
The earthquake was not only strong. It was also insidious. The short time gap between the two strong earthquakes left residents no time to react. Many had just come out of their homes when the second hit. In such cases, even an already cracked building can collapse with the next tremor.
Authorities are warning people not to return to buildings with cracks or visible damage. Aftershocks remain a risk, with ABC News reporting that at least 20 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake.
A tsunami warning was initially issued for coastal areas near the epicenter, but the warning was later lifted. However, authorities remain on high alert, as Venezuela is located in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean and South American plates meet.
The tragedy also has a human face. Mothers search for children, elderly people sit on sidewalks not knowing if they will ever be able to return home, while doctors and nurses treat the wounded under great pressure. In La Guaira, according to the AP, images showed people receiving care outside a damaged hospital.
The international community has already begun to mobilize. The United States has announced that it is preparing to send search and rescue teams, medical assistance, and humanitarian supplies.
For Venezuela, the next few hours are critical. Every minute that passes could mean life or death for those trapped under the rubble. The country is not just counting the damage to buildings. It is counting families torn apart in seconds, cities frozen in fear, and a society called upon to stand tall after one of the strongest earthquakes in decades.
Greek News FL will continue to monitor the development of the tragedy and will update its readers with the latest information.
Πηγές
Associated Press — reporting on the two earthquakes, the dead, the injured, La Guaira and rescue operations.
Reuters — detailed reporting on the collapses, the missing, La Guaira, Caracas and international aid operations.
USGS — data on the magnitude, epicenter, and depth of earthquakes.
ABC News — information on damage, aftershocks, the airport, US aid and the tsunami warning that has expired.
Al Jazeera — live updates and videos from the moments of panic in Venezuela.
Video
AP Video — Venezuela declares a state of emergency after back-to-back powerful earthquakes
Associated Press video with images of collapses, roads and residents abandoning buildings.
Reuters World News — Venezuela earthquake: what we know so far | Reuters World News
Brief update on the data so far on the earthquake and rescue operations.
YouTube — Venezuela earthquake victim rescued from rubble in Caracas | GMA News
Video of a victim being rescued from rubble in Caracas.
Anxiety also for the Greek community in Venezuela
Within this tragedy, there is also a side that directly touches the Hellenism of the diaspora. In Venezuela, approximately 3.000 Greeks, most of whom are in Caracas and in areas where the earthquake was particularly felt. According to a previous report by The Vima International Edition, the Greek authorities had already put in place preparedness mechanisms for the safety of Greeks in Venezuela, with the Greek diplomatic mission in Caracas in contact with the local Greek community.
Of particular concern is the fact that a significant part of the Greek presence in the country is linked to Caracas, the capital that was hit by building collapses, damage to infrastructure and continuous aftershocks. Up until this time, There is no official confirmation of Greek deaths or injuries., but anxiety remains high, as communications in some areas are difficult and rescue operations continue.
The human element of the Greek community has already come to the fore through the testimony of the Greek lawyer. Dina Antoniadi, a resident of the Chacao area, near Caracas. She described moments of terror, saying that she was forced to abandon her home when the building showed large cracks and was deemed dangerous. According to her testimony, all the Greeks she managed to contact were safe, but the picture of the disaster had not yet fully taken shape.
For the Greek diaspora, any such news is not just international news. It is anguish for people who speak our language, keep the Greek identity alive far from their homeland, and today are being tested along with the people of Venezuela.
The Greek News FL is monitoring the situation and seeking confirmed information from the Greek community in Venezuela, in order to convey to its readers the real picture of the Greek diaspora after the powerful earthquake.
sources
The Vima International Edition — Report on the Greek community in Venezuela and the preparedness of the Greek authorities.
Testimony of Greek lawyer Dina Antoniadi from Caracas after the earthquake.https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qbcC0FvjCmk
photo Greek News FL
