Turkish rescuer Ibrahim Eser awarded Venezuela’s Heroism Medal after deadly June quakes

Ibrahim Eser Venezuela earthquakes Heroism Medal Delcy Rodriguez death toll

On 24 June 2026 two strong quakes (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5) struck Venezuela, causing more than 5,000 deaths and about 16,740 injuries. The United Nations Development Programme and Venezuelan authorities reported over 2 million tons of rubble and thousands of families displaced in temporary shelters. A recovery plan includes cleaning the La Guaira coastline and rebuilding homes.

Turkish citizen Ibrahim Eser rescued 38 people trapped under the debris. In recognition of his effort, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez presented him with the “Kahramanlık Nişanı” (Heroism Medal) at a ceremony in La Guaira’s Jorge Luis García Carneiro Stadium. Rodriguez praised the rescuers, saying, “You fought for a Venezuelan’s life; your dedication embodies the Venezuelan spirit.” Other security and emergency‑response units also received the medal.

The event highlights both the humanitarian impact of the quakes and international cooperation, with the Turkish embassy and the Turkish ambassador present at the award ceremony.