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- On 24 June 2026, two consecutive earthquakes (M7.2 and M7.5) struck Yaracuy state in north-central Venezuela. Since then, the president has declared a state of emergency, with over 920 deaths and 3360 injured.
- Severe and widespread damage has been reported, with the greatest concentration in the Capital District, La Guaira, Miranda, Carabobo, and Yaracuy. La Guaira, now declared a disaster area, records the highest number of affected structures and remains the focus of ongoing rescue operations.
- More than 1,423 structures have been damaged, with La Guaira the hardest hit. Maiquetía International Airport is closed, Caracas Metro and railway services are suspended, and power outages persist across multiple states.
- Preliminary assessments of 7 health facilities reveal chaotic care delivery and patient flow, marked by overcrowding, growing surgical backlogs (trauma-orthopedics and neurosurgery), a breakdown of biosafety measures, and staff under severe stress. Critical gaps include the collapse of forensic and morgue services, inadequate casualty registration and missing-persons tracking, and structural damage compromising service continuity.
- MOH Preliminary needs (assessments ongoing) include refrigerated trucks for dead body management; laboratory reagents to restore capacity; trauma supplies (including osteosynthesis) and ICU supplies; WASH supplies for health facilities and shelters and vaccines (yellow fever, measles, tetanus).
- PAHO/WHO has deployed health and engineering assessment teams and completed ERES rapid assessments at 7 health facilities (5 in Caracas, 2 in La Guaira), while supporting the Ministry of Health, Civil Protection, and the Health Cluster to align priorities, coordination of the response; and manage incoming offers of assistance It has also activated its Regional Response Team and the Virtual CICOM, with 38 EMTs and Specialized Care Teams identified (One EMT Type 3 has arrived at La Guaira).
- In parallel, PAHO is coordinating the procurement and delivery of vaccines, medicines, and supplies, including a 4-ton emergency shipment from its Strategic Reserve in Panama, and medical-surgical supplies and body bags already provided to the Ministry of Health.
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