U.S. Military and Aid Teams Arrive in Venezuela After Devastating June Earthquakes

A doublet of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on 24 June, with the worst impact in the coastal city of La Guaira. Official figures cite more than 5,200 deaths, over 16,700 injured and 18,000 people displaced, while rescue teams continue to search for thousands of missing residents.

The United States pledged $386 million in assistance. U.S. troops and civilian contractors entered the disaster zone to distribute humanitarian packages marked with the American flag. Survivors such as 82‑year‑old Erminia Hernández described the tremors that toppled her home and the subsequent aid deliveries, noting that the aid arrived amid a backdrop of severe infrastructure damage and ongoing recovery challenges.