Venezuela Earthquakes: What Happened and Why Recovery Is So Hard

A Tragedy in Numbers

Imagine two giant shakes of the ground — that’s what happened in Venezuela in June. Here’s what we know so far:

• 4,930 people are confirmed to have died (announced by lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez on Thursday).
• The United Nations (UN) thinks up to 50,000 people may still be missing, with many likely buried under broken buildings.
• Almost 17,000 people are hurt.
• 21,120 people are now living in shelters because their homes are gone.

Important Point: The UN says the recovery could cost Venezuela about $37 billion — that’s a huge amount of money for any country.

What’s Happening Now?

The earthquakes happened almost a month ago. Here is the current situation explained simply:

• Local Venezuelan teams have been working since the earthquakes hit.
• But many regular people say the government was slow to help.
• A woman named Cinthia Pulido, who lost her home, said: “From the very first moment… there was an immediate response, but from civilians. The state’s response is only being seen now.”
• Rescue teams from other countries came right after the disaster, but they have now left.
• The world’s attention is moving from "finding people" to "giving food, shelter, and help" (humanitarian relief).
• Another displaced person, Louismarez Paez, said she only gets enough to survive and help her kids and mom — and her mom gets no other help.

Venezuela Has Resources It Can’t Use

Venezuela has faced strict US sanctions (like being told you can’t use your piggy bank) since 2015. Experts say this makes fixing things even harder.

• Economist Mark Weisbrot says: “Venezuela has crucial resources that it is not being allowed to access.”
• This includes $11 billion that is blocked by the US and European countries — money Venezuela says is legally theirs.
• This week, 14 US Democratic lawmakers wrote to the White House asking them to loosen the sanctions so Venezuela can recover.
• They said the sanctions are “severely hampering urgent relief efforts” and hurting the country’s ability to rebuild.

How Did We Get Here? (Simple Steps)

1. Two earthquakes hit Venezuela in June.
2. Thousands died; tens of thousands were hurt or lost homes.
3. Civilians helped first; government help came later.
4. Other countries sent rescuers, then left.
5. Now the focus is on relief and rebuilding.
6. Sanctions block money Venezuela could use to recover.

Summary

Two earthquakes in Venezuela killed nearly 5,000 people, with up to 50,000 missing. Thousands are injured or in shelters. While citizens stepped up early, the government’s response was seen as late. International rescuers have left, and the focus is now on relief. US and European sanctions block $11 billion in Venezuelan money, making recovery harder. Lawmakers and experts urge sanctions relief, as the UN estimates $37 billion is needed to rebuild.

FAQ

Q1: How many people are confirmed dead from the Venezuela earthquakes?
A: As of the latest announcement, 4,930 people are confirmed dead.

Q2: Why are so many people still missing?
A: The UN believes up to 50,000 may be missing, with many feared trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

Q3: What are sanctions, and why do they matter here?
A: Sanctions are like penalties that stop a country from using its money or trading freely. The US and Europe block $11 billion of Venezuela’s money, making it harder to pay for rescue and rebuilding.

Q4: Are other countries still helping?
A: International rescue teams have left, but the effort now focuses on humanitarian relief (food, shelter, care) rather than search and rescue.

Q5: What is being done about the sanctions?
A: Fourteen US Democratic lawmakers asked the White House to ease sanctions so Venezuela can recover faster.