KATY, TEXAS — Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern coast on Wednesday evening, June 24, 2026, killing at least 235 people and injuring approximately 4,300. A 7.2-magnitude foreshock was followed less than one minute later by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake.

Venezuelan officials and the U.S. Geological Survey reported the casualty figures, and officials stated that hundreds of people may still be trapped under debris. A state of emergency was declared in Venezuela following the quakes.

The Trump administration pledged $150 million for relief efforts on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The U.S. military stated it will provide aircraft to support search-and-rescue operations and deliver aid. The U.S. military has had a heightened presence in Venezuela since the January arrest of then-President Nicolás Maduro on drug charges.

Donation sites opened across the Houston area in response to the earthquakes on Thursday. Volunteers sorted donations of canned tuna, diapers, and Advil into cardboard boxes at MetaBox Cargo in Katy, Texas. Messages of hope and support were written on a wall beside a Venezuelan flag at MetaBox Cargo.

Arianna Regardia dropped off hygiene items, including pads, tampons, and body soap, at MetaBox Cargo. "One thing I admire about being Venezuelan is our resilience," Regardia said. "Being there for each other and just supporting each other during the tough times," she said. "Being far away from your family, and being on the outside…it's very important for us to come together and support our people," Regardia said.

Alberto Avila dropped off three bags of canned food and clothing at Mi Querencia Latin Market in Katy. "We are outside the country, the only way we can help is — our stuff," Avila said. "Clothes, food, something to send to Venezuela to help," he said. "That's what Venezuelans do for our people," Avila said. Amelia Millan handed bags of donations to volunteers at the market. "I wish I could get on a plane and be there right now, believe me, my heart and my mind are there right now," Millan said. "It's very hard to concentrate on work or anything else, but this is something else we can do," she said.

Why It Matters

The earthquakes have prompted international aid efforts from the U.S. government, alongside humanitarian responses from the Venezuelan diaspora in the Houston area. An estimated 1.2 million Venezuelans lived in the U.S. as of 2024, with roughly 83,000 residing in the greater Houston area. The damage to Caracas' main airport could complicate efforts to ship supplies to Venezuela.