The tragic toll of the twin earthquakes that devastated Venezuela on June 24, 2026, continues to rise, with the number of confirmed deaths among Portuguese nationals and people of Portuguese descent now reaching 96. The seismic event, which struck the country with two powerful waves just 39 seconds apart, has resulted in a total of 3,342 fatalities and 16,740 injuries reported to date.
The northern region of the country, particularly the La Guaria area, bore the brunt of the destruction. This region, which serves as the operations base for Portuguese rescue teams, is also home to a significant population of Portuguese nationals and their descendants. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors caused widespread building collapses across the northern cities, leading to the high casualty figures.
Venezuela sits on the boundary between the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. As these plates slide past one another, they often become locked, accumulating intense pressure until a catastrophic rupture occurs. In response to the disaster, several European Union nations, including Portugal, have deployed rescue teams to assist with ongoing recovery efforts in the affected zones.
