On June 25, 2026, a series of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern Caribbean coast, causing significant destruction in Caracas and surrounding areas. The first tremor registered a magnitude of 7.2, followed by a stronger 7.5 quake less than a minute later. These seismic events resulted in widespread building collapses, infrastructure damage, and a large-scale emergency response. The death toll has reached at least 188, with over 1,520 individuals reported injured, and around 200 people remain trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams are actively searching for survivors as aftershocks continue to affect the region.
The earthquakes were felt not only across much of Venezuela but also in neighboring Colombia and several Caribbean islands. The epicenter was located off Venezuela's northern coast near the city of Morón, prompting the Venezuelan government to declare a nationwide state of emergency. In response to the disaster, the armed forces, civil defense units, and emergency services have been deployed to assist in rescue and recovery efforts. Schools, public transport, and some airports have been temporarily closed, while power, water, and communications have been disrupted in various areas.
Margarita Simonyan, the Editor-in-Chief of RT, reported that the families of employees were being relocated due to severe damage to their homes. The children of an RT correspondent and cameraman were injured during the earthquake, but their health is not in danger. Simonyan shared footage showing the damage caused by the quake, indicating that the family’s home was left partly destroyed. Additionally, an RT contributor's home was also badly damaged, leading to the relocation of staffers and their families to a hotel for safety.
Jessica Sosa, an RT correspondent personally affected by the quake, reported that part of a ceiling had fallen on her youngest child, although the injuries were not serious. Following the disaster, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people searching for missing relatives. The situation remains critical as rescue operations continue amidst ongoing aftershocks, and the Venezuelan government is working to restore normalcy in the affected regions.
