Responding to Deadly Earthquakes in Venezuela
Deadly, back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
Project HOPE is in Venezuela responding to the deadly back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck outside Caracas near San Felipe on Wednesday evening. Project HOPE has deployed four assessment teams to affected areas in La Guaira, Miranda, and Distrito Capital; is mobilizing medical assistance; and has put international emergency medical personnel and a K-9 Search and Rescue team on standby, ready to deploy.
Initial reports put the death toll at 164 with over 900 injuries, but figures are expected to rise significantly given the extent of the damage. Initial reports indicate collapsed buildings, disrupted communications, and significant impacts on critical infrastructure, including the airport, as aftershocks continued throughout the night.
“The earthquakes that hit Venezuela last night in rapid succession are historic in magnitude and come at a time when the country is reeling from triple-digit inflation, an ongoing displacement crisis, and a collapsed healthcare system,” said Chris Skopec, Project HOPE’s President. “We have confirmed that the majority of our local staff are safe and accounted for as we continue to try to make contact with the others, but the extent of the damage is yet to be fully understood, so we are mobilizing all resources to assess the greatest needs and respond.”
Project HOPE has been working in Venezuela since 2019, strengthening access to health services, medicines, and health education, while supporting local health workers and community-based responses to humanitarian needs. Project HOPE has a team of over 100 within Venezuela, and additional Project HOPE emergency response teams are mobilizing to support the most urgent health and humanitarian needs.
Interviews are available upon request. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact media@projecthope.org.
Access photos from the response here.
