Earthquakes in Venezuela

Two powerful 7.2–7.5 magnitude earthquakes hit Venezuela in the province of Yaracuy on 24 June. This is the most powerful earthquake sequence to strike the country in over 125 years. A state of emergency has been declared, and the international aid effort is underway.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near San Felipe, the capital of the state of Yaracuy. Just 39 seconds later a magnitude 7.5 tremor struck near the town of Yumare, within 5 to 10km from the first one. The US Geological Survey (USGS) refer to this as a “doublet”.

As of July 20, at least 5,200 people have been killed and more than 16,700 injured, with that number continuing to rise. Many thousands have been left homeless or too afraid to stay in damaged buildings. UN officials have warned that the number killed could rise to as high as 10,000.

At least seven states have been affected. La Guaira is the most heavily impacted area, with many families living in temporary shelters such as schools, churches and stadiums. According to projections from the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), more than 9.7 million people are estimated to have been impacted by the earthquakes.

More than 1,400 aftershocks have since been felt across Venezuela, including in Caracas and La Guaira. These continuing tremors are creating additional fear and uncertainty, making many people scared to return to their homes.

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed. Initial reports show significant damage to buildings, businesses and key infrastructure, including airports, as well as power outages.

Tens of thousands of people are likely to require emergency shelter and essential items, with potential longer-term shelter and recovery support.

According to the UN, over 25% of the population already needed some form of humanitarian assistance before the earthquake, with 7.9 million people in need across the country (OCHA).

The Venezuelan Government continues to prioritize search and rescue efforts and is establishing temporary accommodation for affected families. Over 87 transitional camps have been established, including 39 in Caracas, but with tens of thousands of people needing shelter, much more support is likely to be required.

Experts have also warned of a growing health crisis as people shelter in overcrowded temporary accommodation or sleep outside without reliable access to clean water.

ShelterBox is responding in Venezuela. We have a team in-country visiting affected areas and talking to people who have lost their homes to find out how we can best support them. Teams are reporting widespread displacement, with many families living in temporary shelters like schools, churches and stadiums or in self-created sites by the side of roads.

Shelter conditions are of increasing concern, with many people living in small, poor-quality tents and under tarpaulins which are already deteriorating, especially due to recent heavy rainfall. Emergency shelter is in high demand, as well as items such as mosquito nets, due to the risks posed by standing water and measures to improve privacy, dignity and safety for families.

Finding safe locations for shelter support presents a challenge. In La Guaira, for example, communities are concentrated along a narrow coastal strip between the sea and the mountains, limiting the availability of suitable sites away from damaged and unstable buildings.

Despite the unprecedented scale of the disaster and a challenging operating environment, we are working tirelessly to make progress in supporting people who have lost their homes.

We are in the process of moving aid from warehouses in Barbados and Panama to Venezuela by sea and air. Items include tents, shelter kits and essential household items, including mosquito nets, blankets, sleeping mats, solar lights and kitchen sets.

With over a quarter of the population already in need of some form of humanitarian assistance before the earthquake, what we’re seeing is a crisis on top of a crisis. The already fragile socio-economic conditions mean we are very concerned about people’s ability to recover.

– Alice Jefferson, ShelterBox Head of Emergency Responses.

Our team is working together with local contacts from Rotary in Venezuela, Cadena, and other humanitarian organizations to learn of the significant demand for emergency shelter and essential household items.

Rotary in Venezuela is providing vital expertise and support, including local logistics insights, support with navigating complex customs processes, accommodation and transportation for the ShelterBox team, warehouse identification and securing, and help with damage and needs assessments.

Rotary in Venezuela have also supported with the first arrivals of shelter and household items via a gift-in-kind flight into the country. These items will support 400 families and are positioned in a Rotary-secured warehouse in Caracas ready to go once distributions begin. This was one of the very first successful importations of aid into Venezuela outside of UN agencies, since the earthquakes hit.

In recent months, ShelterBox has strengthened preparedness and partnerships across the region, helping us mobilize quickly when disaster struck. As assessments continue, we will adapt our response to meet the priorities identified by affected communities.