Last updated: Tuesday July 14th, 12:05 UTC
- As of Tuesday July 14th, an update from the UN states that Venezuelan authorities have confirmed 4,561 people dead and 16,740 injured. 1254 aftershocks have been reported. A total of 6,462 people have been rescued (ReliefWeb)
- Seven states affected by the two major earthquakes and 611 aftershocks, local authorities report
- Authorities also indicate that 17,907 people remain without housing.
- The UN is targeting future support to 6.8 million people affected by the earthquakes (ReliefWeb)
- Critical infrastructure has been disrupted, including electricity, water supply, telecommunications, transport systems, the Caracas Metro and Maiquetía International Airport. The Government has declared a state of emergency and activated national response mechanisms.
- A team of two experienced Spanish-speaking MapAction humanitarian mappers, Harry Matchette-Downes and Jorge Andres, are in Venezuela at the request of the office of the United Nations Disaster Assessment Coordination (UNDAC).
- MapAction is producing maps to support UNDAC and other humanitarian agencies during the response: they include maps of the affected communities by population density, estimated damage to buildings in specific towns, damage to key infrastructure and operational airports, sites of emergency medical teams, key coordination points and emergency facilities and much more.
- If you are reading this and would like to join MapAction, volunteer recruitment is now open! Check out our open positions on our website.
APPEAL
MapAction’s mapping and geospatial support will ensure that resources get to the worst affected people as soon as possible and all the aid goes further. We are seeking to raise £100k to support multiple rotations of geospatial experts who can identify where to search for survivors and target humanitarian aid to those who need it most. Please get in touch with [email protected] to discuss more tailored support. Here are other ways you can also support MapAction.
Why do humanitarian agencies need maps during an emergency response (video appeal)?
Tuesday July 14th, 12:05 UTC: MapAction map shows possible major rubble sites
This MapAction map shows sites with masses of rubble from destroyed buildings and infrastructure destroyed by June 24th’s two earthquakes and the more than 1000+ aftershocks. UNDP estimates that there could be 1.2 million tonnes of rubble in the state of La Guaira alone. The rubble needs to be disposed of before the reconstruction can begin.
“As we transition from the emergency effort to a wider response, it is essential we have one coordinated plan,” UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said last week.
A collective strategy must cover such urgent priorities as food, shelter and rubble removal, along with long-term recovery and development, he added, according to a UN update.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma042-v1
Almost three weeks after the devastating earthquakes in #Venezuela, families are rebuilding their lives one day at a time, and humanitarian support remains part of that journey.
Read more: https://t.co/sDRRb1aPYw pic.twitter.com/web9sc0H2e
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) July 13, 2026
Thursday July 9th, 11:30 UTC: Images from MapAction members at work in Venezuela
Monday July 6th, 19:10 UTC: MapAction shares insights from Venezuela response with BBC News Online
BBC News Online stopped in to talk to MapAction and find out about our work alongside UNDAC supporting the response to the earthquake in Venezuela.
READ MORE (BBC News): How volunteer map makers save lives in a disaster
Monday July 6th, 07:20 UTC: Map highlights key infrastructure in most affected area
As teams shift their focus to Rapid Needs Assessments and Rapid Infrastructure Assessments, this three-page map by MapAction highlights key infrastructure in the state of La Guaira. It highlights key shelters, distribution point, hospital, education sites, clinics and power stations, among other key infrastructure sites.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma020-v1
Saturday July 4th, 19:00 UTC: Map of most affected area with shelters, distribution points and damage estimates
A three-page map series covering the most affected areas of La Guaira, the region which suffered the worst impact from June 24th’s two earthquakes, showing the USAR sectors, with a background of shelters, distribution points, educational sites, healthcare sites, and building damage estimates.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma013-v4
Ya está disponible la actualización del snapshot de situación al 2 de julio, con datos clave sobre la respuesta a los terremotos en Venezuela
La información verificada es esencial para la respuesta coordinada.
🔗Descarga el informe completo: Venezuela: https://t.co/EsRzAUPi0v pic.twitter.com/qT5NuX2aOQ
— OCHA Venezuela (@OCHA_Venezuela) July 3, 2026
Friday, July 3rd, 09:45 UTC: MapAction team producing maps of temporary settlements as search and rescue teams continue to search for survivors
“The Government response remains focused on search and rescue operations and on the preparation and expansion of transitional camps to assist affected populations. La Guaira remains the most affected state. The United Nations and its partner organisations, in coordination with the authorities, are implementing multisectoral response activities and will continue to scale up assistance to affected people,” states a July 2nd update from the United Nations Office for thew Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Thursday July 2nd, 18:10 UTC: MapAction series of maps showcase key breakdown of temporary shelters in main affected area
This map shows a temporary settlement that has been erected in an adapted sports facility. The map highlights safe places for women and children, dormitories, toilets, the registration office and canteens, among other data points.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma018-v2
Hand in hand with responders and humanitarian teams, volunteers are supporting communities affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela.
As rescue efforts continue, humanitarian organizations are scaling up support.
Read more: https://t.co/annaW82WgP pic.twitter.com/Arjw8WBvi5
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) July 2, 2026
Thursday July 2nd, 09:05 UTC: Devastating images from near the epicentre in Venezuela
These images shared by Jorge Andres, who together with Harry Matchette-Downes is in Venezuela supporting UNDAC for MapAction, give a glimpse into the extent of damage wrought by the earthquakes. The images are from Catia La Mar, near Venezuela’s main airport.
According to recent assessments, this is the second worst-affected area after the town of Caraballeda.
Wednesday July 1st, 14:20 UTC: Nearly 2000 confirmed dead, more than 10,000 injured and thousands of buildings damaged
Wednesday July 1st, 13:25 UTC: More than a half a million people potentially affected in one state of Venezuela alone
More than 650,000 people have been estimated to be affected in Yaracuy State in the west of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by June 24th’s two earthquakes (both 7+ Richter scale).
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma004-v1
Want to find out more about some of our 20 previous emergency responses to earthquakes?
READ MORE: MapAction sends humanitarian mappers to support UN Myanmar earthquake response (2025)
Since the deadly earthquakes struck northern Venezuela:
🔵nearly 50 international search and rescue teams are mobilized
🔵first responders have already pulled several people alive from the rubble, including this 9 month old baby.Read more:https://t.co/1vPTegvV9c pic.twitter.com/EELYdBVuOH
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) June 30, 2026
Tuesday June 30th, 19:15 UTC: MapAction map highlights critical areas for rapid assessment and search and rescue teams
One of the latest MapAction maps by our team in Venezuela colour codes key affected areas for local and international rapid assessment teams. The map highlights ‘critical’ priority areas by state, including the town of San Felipe in the state of Yaracuy and the city of Maracay, in the Distrito Capital near the capital Caracas.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma019-v1
Tuesday June 30th, 13:15 UTC: MapAction CEO speaks to BBC about our work in Venezuela
“The information we provide actually saves lives.” MapAction’s CEO Darren Dovey KFSM spoke to BBC Three Counties Radio yesterday about MapAction’s response to the earthquakes in Venezuela. (from 2:11:25 to 2:18:04).
Listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002y3lr
More than 12,700 people have been displaced after powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela.
Many are now living in informal shelters, without sufficient safe shelter, food, water, sanitation or clothing.@UN and partners are delivering urgent relief to people affected. pic.twitter.com/772UNDG3RY
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) June 29, 2026
Tuesday June30th, 10:25AM UTC: This is MapAction’s 20th earthquake response since 2002
Other major recent MapAction responses to earthquakes include: Turkiye/Syrian Arab Republic (2023) and Myanmar (2025).
Tuesday June30th, 08:55AM UTC: MapAction map shows active clinics, hospitals and medical facilities
The map below highlights which medical facilities are active in the most affected state, La Guaira. “Health services are under extreme pressure now,” said Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the UN World Health Organization (WHO), as a surge in trauma cases exceeds the capacity of health facilities, according to a June 30th UN update.
WHO-verified data from Saturday June 27th for 21 health facilities across Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcón indicates that three are “in critical condition”, six have structural damage or are partly functional, while the remainder “remain operational under significant strain”, Mr. Lindmeier said in the same update.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma017-v1
Monday June 29th, 10:30 UTC: MapAction’s Harry Matchette-Downes en route to Venezuela
Monday June 29th, 07:45 UTC: MapAction map shows percentage of damaged buildings in the town of Caraballeda
Some buildings in the coastal town of Caraballeda, near the epicentre of June 24th’s two earthquakes in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, were more than 75 per cent destroyed by the impact.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma014-v1
More than 2000 search and rescue personnel from 27 countries are supporting local authorities inn search and rescue operations, according to the local Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
OCHA/UNDAC, junto a las autoridades, establecieron el Centro de Coordinación de Búsqueda y Rescate en La Guaira 🇻🇪
Más de 2.000 funcionarios especialistas de los equipos USAR han llegado de más de 27 países para apoyar los esfuerzos nacionales en la respuesta a los terremotos. pic.twitter.com/jjxM8kSLRE
— OCHA Venezuela (@OCHA_Venezuela) June 29, 2026
🇻🇪 La respuesta humanitaria continúa tras los terremotos en Venezuela. Las labores de búsqueda y rescate, las evaluaciones de necesidades y la asistencia de emergencia siguen en marcha.
Reporte de Situación No. 5:
🔗 ES: https://t.co/ujqwfLOx5L
🔗 EN: https://t.co/P8lD86LfBC pic.twitter.com/Afj62LZCSw— OCHA Americas (@UNOCHA_Americas) June 29, 2026
Sunday June 28th, 08.24 UTC: MapAction map shows shake intensity
A map of the shake intensity by region of the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes on June 24th.
Map link: https://maps.mapaction.org/dataset/2026-ven-001-ma007-v1
Facts Only
Two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurred on June 24, 2026.
Venezuelan authorities confirmed 4,561 deaths and 16,740 injuries as of July 14, 2026.
1,254 aftershocks have been reported.
6,462 people have been rescued.
17,907 people are without housing.
Seven states were affected, with La Guaira identified as the most impacted region.
Critical infrastructure disruptions include electricity, water, telecommunications, transport, Caracas Metro, and Maiquetía International Airport.
The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency.
MapAction deployed two mappers, Harry Matchette-Downes and Jorge Andres, to support UNDAC.
The UN is targeting support for 6.8 million affected people.
Nearly 50 international search and rescue teams and 2,000 specialists from 27 countries participated in operations.
Executive Summary
Following two major earthquakes on June 24, 2026, Venezuela is managing a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Authorities report thousands of casualties and injuries, with severe infrastructure failure affecting transport, power, and water systems. La Guaira is the most heavily impacted area, facing massive rubble accumulation—estimated at 1.2 million tonnes in that state alone—which must be cleared before reconstruction can begin.
The international response is coordinated through the UN and UNDAC, utilizing geospatial support from MapAction to map rubble sites, medical facility functionality, and temporary shelter layouts. While emergency search and rescue operations have transitioned toward rapid needs assessments and the establishment of transitional camps, significant gaps remain. Over 17,000 people are homeless, and health services are under extreme pressure due to a surge in trauma cases. The UN is now planning a wider response to support an estimated 6.8 million affected individuals, focusing on food, shelter, and long-term recovery.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative is a transparent, real-time coordination log demonstrating how geospatial intelligence transforms chaotic disaster zones into manageable operational grids, directly linking mapping data to the preservation of life.
The source is a series of updates from a specialized humanitarian mapping organization. While the data is precise, the structural pattern is that of a fundraising appeal integrated into a situational report. The urgency of the crisis is used to justify a specific financial target (£100k) for expert rotations. This creates a tight loop where the evidence of the disaster serves as the primary advertisement for the solution provided by the organization.
Patterns detected: ARC-0043 Authority Game, ARC-0024 Emotional Exploitation
The driving paradigm is "Technological Optimism"—the assumption that better data and mapping are the primary levers for solving humanitarian suffering. It assumes that the bottleneck in aid is informational rather than political or logistical. The second-order consequence is a dependency on specialized external geospatial expertise, which may overshadow the development of local capacity.
If this were an influence campaign, a bad actor would use these precise numbers to create a sense of overwhelming catastrophe to justify the suspension of civil liberties under a "state of emergency" or to divert international funds into opaque "expert" contracts. The actual content does not match this pattern; it remains focused on operational utility and humanitarian relief.
Bridge Questions:
1. To what extent does the reliance on external mapping experts facilitate or hinder the long-term autonomy of local Venezuelan emergency services?
2. If the "critical" areas identified by maps do not align with the political priorities of the state of emergency, how is that tension resolved?
3. What non-geospatial bottlenecks (e.g., political instability, supply chain failures) might render the most accurate maps ineffective?
Sentinel — Human
The text functions primarily as an aggregation and presentation of real, time-stamped reports from various international and local sources concerning the Venezuelan earthquake response.