Portugal and EU rush aid to Venezuela after twin quakes kill 188, with at least six Portuguese among the dead

Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on the afternoon of 24 June 2026, the first measuring 7.2 and the second 7.5 on the Richter scale, separated by less than a minute. The United States Geological Survey placed the initial epicentre roughly 200 kilometres from Caracas. Over 138 aftershocks were recorded by midday on 25 June, according to Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, who called it the worst natural disaster in three decades.

Casualties and destruction

The provisional official toll from Venezuelan authorities stands at 188 dead, more than 1,500 injured and at least 147 people missing. The state of La Guaira, north of the capital, suffered heavy damage: dozens of buildings collapsed or were rendered uninhabitable. In the coastal town of Catia La Mar, a supermarket was partially burned and looters were seen carrying away sacks of food as rescue teams worked nearby.

This is the biggest shock our country has experienced in the last 30 years. After the strong earthquakes yesterday at 6pm, of magnitudes 7.5 and 7.2, we had until midday today 138 aftershocks.

Portuguese victims

Portugal's Foreign Ministry confirmed that at least six Portuguese nationals and luso-descendants died in the disaster. Two of the victims are Portuguese citizens, while four are of Portuguese descent. Earlier, the regional government of Madeira had reported two luso-descendant deaths and the foreign minister, Paulo Rangel, noted that the figure remained highly provisional. In addition, 56 Portuguese and luso-descendants are officially listed as missing, though Mr Rangel warned the number could rise further.

Hélder Teixeira, a Portuguese-Venezuelan resident of Caracas, described the moment the first quake hit. He received a seismic alert on his phone seconds before the shaking began.

Everything started shaking, trembling quite strongly. I have a five-month-old boy, I was carrying him in my arms, and thank God everyone in the house managed to get down.

Mr Teixeira added that relatives of acquaintances were still missing in La Guaira, with rescue workers having pulled out a woman and her children but still searching for a sister, mother and father.

International aid mobilised

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on social media that Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands would send immediate assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. She added that the EU was ready to provide further help, including medical aid.

We are doing everything so that this flight leaves as quickly as possible. It could be during the early hours of the morning, it could be only tomorrow morning.

Portugal has readied a team of 53 personnel, bringing together six INEM staff (two doctors, two nurses and two ambulance crew), an emergency and rescue unit of the GNR and civil protection operatives. The flight was being coordinated with the Venezuelan authorities and other European partners and was expected to depart overnight or early on 26 June.