Venezuela requests European support as earthquake death toll rises
Venezuela has requested assistance from Europe to deal with the aftermath of the double earthquake that struck the country on Wednesday evening. The death toll stands at 188 people, with more than 1,500 injured and 157 missing, the speaker of parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, reported in a televised address.
Interim president Delcy Rodríguez travelled to the affected region on Thursday. “She is leading the relief efforts in the area, which has been hit by a disaster of enormous proportions,” said the speaker, the president’s brother, in his address.
Venezuela has asked for support via the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which is coordinated by the European Union. "Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic immediately offered assistance & will be sending rescue teams," said European Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib. "This is what European solidarity looks like."
Around 220 Belgians are registered with the diplomatic mission in Bogotá, and around 10 tourists have registered via the government’s Travellers Online platform. The ministry of Foreign Affairs is not yet aware of any Belgians in Venezuela who may have been affected by the earthquakes, a spokesperson said.
“Our mission is in constant contact with Belgians on the ground and is providing them with information about the situation and the embassy’s emergency number,” they said. “We are trying to gain as complete a picture as possible of their situation.”
The ministry has updated its travel advice, warning of possible aftershocks and urging travellers to strictly follow the advice of local authorities. Non-essential travel to Venezuela is not recommended and Caracas International Airport is currently closed.
According to the US Geological Survey, Wednesday’s twin earthquakes were the strongest to hit the country in over a century. The agency’s modelling suggests thousands of people may have been killed, and that there is a possibility the number of fatalities could be higher than 10,000.
Search and rescue workers amid the rubble of a collapsed building in Los Corales, Venezuela, 25 June 2026 © PHOTO FEDERICO PARRA / AFP
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