The European Union has allocated €5 million in emergency assistance to support communities affected by the devastating earthquake in Venezuela.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas made the announcement following a telephone conversation with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
“The EU has already mobilised €5 million in emergency assistance for affected communities. We have activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, with several Member States rapidly deploying search and rescue teams, firefighters and medical personnel,” Kallas wrote on X.
She added that rescue operations are also being supported by the Copernicus Programme, the EU’s satellite monitoring system, which is helping authorities identify the areas most in need of urgent assistance.
Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, just 40 seconds apart near San Felipe in Yaracuy state.
The stronger 7.5 quake was the most powerful to hit the country since 1900, causing widespread damage through collapsed buildings in Caracas and the port city of La Guaira, with significant impacts on infrastructure amid the country's existing challenges.
The events triggered extensive rescue operations, numerous aftershocks, and fears of a high casualty count due to the shallow depths and rapid succession of the strikes.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
