Two massive earthquakes that struck Venezuela within a span of seconds on June 24 have left a trail of devastation. The government has announced that over 4,000 people have lost their lives in the disaster. Around 16,700 people have been injured, thousands remain trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings, and the whereabouts of many others are still unknown; officials warn that the death toll is likely to rise further.
Meanwhile, following a 3.0 magnitude earthquake in Caracas on Friday, local buildings were evacuated, and residents were moved to safety. Additionally, the country’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, revealed that she has requested King Charles III to release approximately 30 tonnes of Venezuelan gold—currently frozen abroad due to UK sanctions—to support ongoing earthquake relief operations.