Health Risks Seen in Venezuela After June Earthquakes

By the Editorial Team · Friday, July 10, 2026

Two earthquakes in June severely impacted Venezuela’s northern coast, causing nearly 3,900 deaths, over 16,700 injuries, and widespread displacement with more than 80 shelters housing the homeless. Health officials and PAHO are working to prevent disease outbreaks amid disrupted medical services and weakened healthcare infrastructure, while challenges like low vaccination coverage and a shortage of healthcare workers persist.

Health officials have highlighted significant health concerns following two earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s northern coast in June, with interruptions to medical services, overcrowded shelters, and limited access to clean water among the primary risks. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is collaborating with Venezuela’s Ministry of Health to monitor potential outbreaks of respiratory and digestive illnesses, particularly in temporary shelters established for those displaced by the disasters.

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa warned that the weeks ahead could pose increased health dangers, not only from quake-related injuries but also due to the disruption of routine healthcare, insufficient sanitation, and reduced vaccination access. Prior to the earthquakes, Venezuela already exhibited low immunization coverage, heightening vulnerability in the more than 80 shelters now housing displaced populations.

In response, PAHO and Venezuelan authorities are working to integrate field hospitals and shelters into an early warning system designed to identify and mitigate emerging health threats promptly. Despite these efforts, Venezuela’s healthcare infrastructure faces ongoing challenges. The economic crisis over recent years has severely weakened the system, leading to shortages of essential services immediately after the seismic events. Many healthcare facilities lacking proper trauma care capacity had to be rapidly adapted to treat earthquake victims, according to Ciro Ugarte, PAHO’s director for health emergencies.

He noted that the situation was complicated by the significant outflow of healthcare professionals amid broader migration trends, which has diminished the country’s capacity to manage emergencies. International aid, including personnel support and deployment of field hospitals, has helped improve response capabilities.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has strongly defended the government’s management of the earthquake response, amid criticism that civilians have predominantly led rescue and recovery efforts alongside international rescue teams, firefighters, and military volunteers.

As of July 9, official figures reported 3,889 fatalities, 16,740 injuries, and nearly 18,000 individuals left homeless due to the earthquakes. In La Guaira, the state most severely affected, approximately 300 victims were buried without identification. Armando De Negri, PAHO’s acting director in Venezuela, stated that forensic authorities are maintaining detailed records of burial sites and are preserving biological materials such as teeth, bones, and fingernails to facilitate future identification through genetic analysis.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.