On June 29, Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, updated the public on the earthquake’s toll: 1,719 people have died, 5,034 injured, 15,866 displaced, and 22,619 are receiving treatment in medical facilities and field hospitals.
It has also been confirmed that 8 Chinese citizens lost their lives in the quake, with one still missing. The identities of other victims are being verified.
Rodríguez also revealed that 855 buildings were damaged nationwide, with 189 completely collapsed and 666 partially collapsed. In the hardest-hit state of La Guaira, about 90% of power has been restored, and 15 large temporary shelters have been set up.
Around 6 p.m. local time on June 24, two earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher struck Venezuela’s northern coast within a minute. The epicenter was located about 160 kilometers from the capital, Caracas.
In the days that followed, continuous aftershocks in the surrounding areas have raised the risk of secondary building collapses,forcing many people to avoid returning to buildings and choose to sleep in the streets or in their cars for safety.
The Caracas metro system, which had just resumed operations on June 28, was suspended again on the morning of June 29 due to aftershocks. It’s currently unclear when service will be restored.
All educational institutions across the country will remain closed from June 29 to July 5.
As a major oil-producing nation, Venezuela has proven reserves of about 303 billion barrels, accounting for 17% of the global total—the largest in the world. After the quake, the country’s People’s Power Minister for Petroleum, Paula Eñau, said oil production had not been affected.
During a radio interview on June 26, Eñau stated that Venezuela’s current daily crude oil output is 1.2 million barrels, and the government has assessed domestic inventories, ensuring the supply of natural gas and fuel.
Aid efforts have been rapidly mobilized from multiple fronts, including foreign governments, UN agencies, and civil organizations. A total of 3,319 international rescue workers and 140 search and rescue dogs have been deployed.
The Chinese government decided to provide an additional 100 million yuan in emergency free material assistance on top of previously provided cash aid, along with satellite imagery of the quake zone.
As of June 29, preliminary statistics show that Chinese enterprises in Venezuela have donated over 115 tons of supplies, including food, drinking water, daily necessities, labor protection gear, small construction tools, and medical supplies.
Over 200 tons of additional supplies are scheduled to be delivered in batches to designated Venezuelan collection points from July 1 to 3. Chinese companies in the country will continue to purchase and donate more materials as needed. Organizations like the Venezuela Chinese Federation have mobilized overseas Chinese in Venezuela to donate nearly 1,700 tons of relief supplies, helping tens of thousands of affected families.
Several Chinese engineering firms have proactively dispatched construction machinery and professional personnel to the rescue sites. Currently, two cranes are in operation with at least eight workers, and two excavators, ten shipping containers, and two emergency generators are ready for deployment as needed.
Northern Venezuela lies on the collision zone between the Caribbean and South American plates, with multiple active fault lines where crustal energy continuously accumulates. Seismic activity in the region is notably frequent and cyclical. The 1967 Caracas earthquake, which measured 6.5-6.7, caused hundreds of casualties.
The epicenter of this quake was in a densely populated economic belt north of the capital, very close to Caracas. It is the strongest earthquake the country has experienced in 126 years, covering a wide area. The quake struck on a public holiday evening when many people were at home or participating in public events. The U.S. Geological Survey’s preliminary estimate suggests the death toll could be at least 10,000.
