On July 1st, local time, Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, publicly shared that the death toll from the recent earthquake has climbed to 2,295, with injuries reaching 11,267. So far, 6,461 people have been rescued.
Between 7:00 PM on June 30th and 6:00 PM on July 1st, another Chinese citizen was confirmed dead in the “June 24th Earthquake.” In total, 9 Chinese citizens have lost their lives since the quake struck.
According to reports, Jorge Rodríguez stated that the government has mobilized over 26,000 military, police, and firefighters for search and rescue operations, supported by 17,000 volunteer logistics workers. Additionally, 4,099 international rescuers, 153 search dogs, and 49 support vehicles are assisting with relief efforts and transporting affected residents.
He also revealed that 855 buildings have been damaged across the country, with 189 completely collapsed and 666 partially destroyed. In the hardest-hit state of La Guaira, about 90% of electrical power has been restored, and 15 large temporary shelters have been set up.
Delcy Rodríguez, Jorge Rodríguez’s sister and Venezuela’s acting president, announced a 7-day national mourning period starting from 6:00 PM on July 1st to honor the earthquake victims.
Back in January, the U.S. military apprehended former President Maduro and took him out of Venezuela. The Rodríguez siblings now form the core of Venezuela’s power structure, having postponed elections and struck a compromise deal with the U.S. since taking office.
According to a preliminary estimate from the U.S. Geological Survey, the death toll from the strong earthquake in Venezuela could range between 10,000 and 100,000.
Northern Venezuela sits on the collision zone between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, with several active fault lines. This region constantly accumulates crustal energy, leading to frequent and cyclical seismic activity. A magnitude 6.5-6.7 earthquake in Caracas in 1967 caused hundreds of casualties.
The staggering loss of life from this earthquake is due to a mix of extreme factors. Two quakes above magnitude 7 struck just 40 seconds apart, with the epicenter in a densely populated economic zone. The quake hit on a public holiday evening, when many people were at home or attending events, making it hard to evacuate quickly.
Additionally, due to U.S. sanctions, local infrastructure like pipelines and power grids has gone decades without proper maintenance. This aging system is prone to fires and other secondary disasters after a quake. The area also lacks heavy machinery and life-detection equipment, so initial rescues relied on manual digging. The crucial 72-hour rescue window has long passed.
Aid has been rolling in quickly from multiple governments, UN agencies, and NGOs. A total of 3,319 foreign rescuers and 140 search dogs are involved in the effort. The Chinese government, on top of earlier cash aid, has added 100 million yuan worth of emergency supplies and shared satellite images of the affected zone.
As a major oil producer, Venezuela holds about 303 billion barrels of proven reserves—17% of the global total, the largest in the world. After the quake, People’s Power Minister of Oil, Paula Eneau, said oil production hasn’t been affected.
Eneau told a local radio station that Venezuela’s current average daily oil output is 1.2 million barrels. The government has assessed domestic inventory, ensuring natural gas and fuel supplies are secure.
All educational institutions will continue to suspend classes from June 29th to July 5th.
Maersk, in its latest update on Venezuelan operations after the quake on July 1st, reported that commercial operations at the main port of La Guaira have not yet been cleared to resume. Import and export cargo shipments through this port will remain suspended until further notice. All other port operations in Venezuela are running as normal.
