On June 28, a new earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale was recorded off the northern coast of Venezuela. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported that the quake occurred approximately 61 kilometers northwest of Maracay, a city in northern Venezuela. Witnesses said the aftershock was clearly felt in Maracay and the capital Caracas.
Earlier, on the evening of June 25, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale devastated large areas of Venezuela, killing at least 920 people. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the toll could exceed 10,000. As of now, more than 3,360 people have been injured, over 172 remain trapped under debris, and the number of missing is estimated at over 50,000, according to Venezuelan government figures.
On June 28, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced restricted access to some of the hardest-hit areas in La Guaira state. Communities have organized themselves to collect essential supplies and search for survivors. Many residents are using private vehicles as makeshift ambulances. The Venezuelan government has also relaxed restrictions on social media platforms such as X (Twitter), which had been blocked after the disputed 2024 presidential election. This has allowed people to share information about missing relatives. Jennifer Palacios, 25, whose 6-year-old son and five other family members are trapped under rubble, said: "It was the community that got people out alive. We need cranes to move concrete slabs. There are still people trapped."
