Thousands missing after Venezuela earthquakes; US deportees vanish amidst humanitarian crisis

Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes on June 24, 2026, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, causing widespread devastation primarily in the regions of La Guaira and Caracas. The confirmed death toll has tragically surpassed 1,700, with over 5,000 injured and a staggering 46,600 individuals still reported missing amidst the collapsed infrastructure and rubble.

Adding to the crisis, more than 100 Venezuelan nationals recently deported from the United States vanished after the Hotel Santuario La Llanada in La Guaira collapsed during the tremors. A flight carrying 146 deportees, including women and children, had arrived from Miami just hours before the catastrophic events, with many of them subsequently taken to the affected hotel.

Relatives are now desperately searching for their loved ones, as some deportees survived the hotel's destruction while a significant number remain unaccounted for. This natural disaster has severely intensified Venezuela's ongoing humanitarian challenges, prompting international aid and rescue teams to join the urgent efforts on the ground.