Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Disaster Overview

On 24 June 2026, northern Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes approximately 40 seconds apart—a magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock. The shallow earthquakes generated severe ground shaking across northern Venezuela, making them the strongest recorded in the country in more than 125 years.

The earthquakes caused extensive damage to homes, hospitals, schools, transportation infrastructure, and other critical facilities. Numerous communities experienced building collapses and disruptions to essential services, while thousands of people were displaced. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams were immediately mobilized to support search and rescue operations while national authorities continued to assess the full extent of the damage. 

The International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” has been activated for floods in Venezuela on 15 August and in India on 16 August.

Floods in Venezuela

In Venezuela, persistent heavy rain and swollen rivers have caused severe flooding, which has affected over 10,000 people in the Venezuelan provinces of Amazonas, Apure, Bolivar and Anzoategui. The Orinoco river reached its highest levels in 40 years, leading the river to burst its banks in my places. Local authorities have set up an aerial bridge over the river so supplies of food, medicine and aid can reach the affected populations. Major arterial roads have also been closed, isolating some areas and further hampering emergency response efforts.

The red alert for rain and flooding is set to be in place until the end of August, with further rain forecast in the coming weeks.

The Charter activation was made by Venezuelan civil protection…

On 22 July 2014, Xinhua News Agency, the state press agency of the People's Republic of China, annouced that China and Venezuela agreed on the in-orbit delivery of a remote sensing satellite, VRSS-1.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) will be the major contractor of the project, expanding satellite technology transfer to Venezuela.

This VRSS-1 will be the second remote sensing satellite that China provides to Venezuela: a first one was launched into space in september 2012 from northwest China's Gobi desert. Venezuela uses the satellite for the country's land resource monitoring, environmental protection, disaster management, crop yield estimation and urban planning.

On 29 September 2012, Venezuela's first Remote Sensing Satellite "VRSS1" was launched into orbit from China. The satellite images will transmit information for the country's land resources inspections, environmental protection, disaster detection and management, crop yield estimation and city plans. Orbiting at an altitude of 639 km, with three daily passes over Venezuela, the satellite will have a 2.5 meter resolution, taking 350 images each day.

A Chinese Long March 2D carrier rocket has launched the satellite marking China's first in-orbit delivery of a remote sensing satellite to an international customer. In 2008, China launched Venezuela's first satellite—the Venesat-1, or "Simon Bolivar"—to carry communications facilities. Venesat-1, which was a jointly built telecommunication satellite, made Venezuela the fourth Latin American country to own a satellite after Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

Direccion Nacional de Proteccion Civil y Administracion de Desastres (National Directorate for Civil Protection and Disaster Management)

Contact Person
Mr Luis Erneso Diaz Curbelo
Coordinador Nacional
Tel: +58-212-662 6759
Email: dinternacionales [at] pcivil.gob.ve
Web: http://www.pcivil.gob.ve
 

About the National Directorate for Civil Protection and Disaster Management
The mission of the National Directorate for Civil Protection and Disaster Management is "to plan, coordinate, implement and monitor all actions, measures and processes for prevention and care necessary to ensure the protection of any person in any situation involving threat, vulnerability or risk a proactive human talent, professional and fully given by the lives of their fellow supported by the values of voluntarism,…

Dirección Nacional de Protección Civil y Administración de Desastres

Persona de Contacto
Sr. Luis Erneso Diaz Curbelo
Coordinador Nacional
Teléfono: +58-212-662 6759
E-mail: dinternacionales [at] pcivil.gob.ve
Web: http://www.pcivil.gob.ve
 

Sobre la Dirección Nacional de Protección Civil y Administración de Desastres
"La misión de la Dirección Nacional de Protección Civil y Administración de Desastres es la de “planificar, coordinar, ejecutar y supervisar todas las acciones, medidas y procesos de prevención y atención, necesarios para garantizar la protección de toda persona ante cualquier situación que implique amenaza, vulnerabilidad o riesgo; con un talento humano proactivo, profesional y dado plenamente por la vida de sus semejantes sustentado en los valores de voluntariedad,…