Emergency Contacts for Portuguese Nationals
If you have family or friends in Venezuela, contact the Portuguese Consulate immediately:
• Caracas: +58 414-466.53.50
• Valencia: +58 412-040.55.65
• Portugal's Secretary of State for Communities: Standing by for consular updates
The Portuguese consulate in Caracas has activated emergency protocols for Portuguese nationals in Venezuela following twin earthquakes that struck Wednesday evening local time. As of late Thursday (June 25), Portugal's Secretary of State for Communities, Emídio Sousa, confirmed no Portuguese victims have been identified, though he cautioned that the situation remains fluid as search and rescue operations intensify.
What Happened: The Twin Tremors
The seismic double-blow occurred Wednesday, June 24 at 18:04 local time (23:04 Lisbon time), beginning with a magnitude 7.2 earthquake followed just 39 seconds later by a 7.5 magnitude tremor—the second ranking among the most powerful earthquakes to strike South America in recent memory. The epicenter lay near Yumare in Yaracuy state, approximately 200 kilometers east of Caracas, but the proximity to the capital and the shallow depth of 13.2 kilometers amplified the destructive force across densely populated urban centers.
Immediate toll as of Thursday afternoon:
• 32 confirmed dead
• 700+ injured
• At least 5 buildings completely collapsed in Caracas alone
• 20 aftershocks recorded within the first 24 hours
• 18 people pulled alive from rubble in Chacao neighborhood
• Nearly 1,000 individuals listed as missing or whereabouts uncertain
Where Portuguese Communities Are Most Affected
Significant Portuguese communities reside in Chacao (eastern Caracas) and La Guaira—both areas experiencing extensive structural collapse. Four of the five completely collapsed buildings in Caracas are located in Chacao, directly affecting the Portuguese diaspora neighborhood.
Collapsed or severely damaged structures:
• Petúnia building (total collapse)
• Don Pepe residential tower (total collapse)
• Altamira Village Hotel & Suite (total collapse)
• Four additional buildings in Chacao with catastrophic damage
• Six more structures in Los Palos Grandes, Altamira, and Bello Campo with severe structural damage
• La Rosita Portuguese bakery facade damaged
• Multiple apartment buildings with exposed interiors
Over 500 emergency workers, canine units, and police officers are conducting search-and-rescue operations in these neighborhoods.
Voices from the Ground: Portuguese Residents Describe the Moment
José Gonçalves, a Portuguese merchant living in La Campiña, Caracas, told the Lusa news agency: "It was the strongest I've ever felt—I still feel my body shaking from fear. Vases and belongings crashed to the floor as the power cut out."
Matilde Freitas, another Portuguese resident, reported that multiple aftershocks rattled Higuerote, 120 kilometers east of the capital, leaving the town without electricity or phone service. "Residents fled into the streets, many in tears," she recounted.
The tremors were felt as far as Colombia, where residents in Bogotá—over 1,000 kilometers away—evacuated buildings. Northern Brazil also reported evacuations in Manaus and Belém, though no casualties were recorded outside Venezuela.
Why Casualties May Rise Significantly
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) published a concerning probability model Thursday morning: a 42% likelihood that deaths will eventually range from 10,000 to 100,000, with a 17% chance exceeding 100,000 fatalities. This projection relies on critical variables including population density and building typology.
"In general, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquakes, although some earthquake-resistant structures do exist," the USGS noted. "The most common types of vulnerable buildings are brick structures, unreinforced masonry, and adobe block construction."
Venezuela's building codes evolved after the 1967 Caracas earthquake (magnitude 6.5–6.7), which exposed widespread structural inadequacies in neighborhoods like Altamira and Los Palos Grandes. While post-1967 regulations introduced seismic standards, enforcement has been inconsistent. Much of the housing stock—especially in informal settlements—remains non-compliant or self-built without engineering oversight.
Latin American nations with rigorous earthquake preparedness, such as Chile and Mexico, have demonstrated that strong codes and retrofitting dramatically reduce casualties: 90% of Chilean structures survived the devastating 2010 earthquake. Venezuela, by contrast, lacks the fiscal capacity and regulatory enforcement to upgrade its aging urban fabric, leaving millions in harm's way.
Economic Impact Projected at 1% to 7% of GDP
The USGS estimates economic losses between 1% and 7% of Venezuela's GDP, with some projections potentially reaching 20% depending on secondary impacts such as gas line ruptures, electrical system failures, and cascading infrastructure damage. These costs compound an already fragile economy.
Critical infrastructure closures:
• Maiquetía International Airport closed indefinitely due to severe structural damage
• Public transport suspended (metro and commuter rail services halted)
• Gas supply cut to damaged buildings to prevent explosions
• Educational institutions nationwide ordered closed
• Electrical grid and phone services severely disrupted in affected zones
What Portuguese Residents Should Do Now
Immediate steps for Portuguese nationals in Venezuela:
Register your status with the Portuguese Consulate-General immediately
Call the emergency hotlines above to confirm you are safe or to request assistance
Avoid damaged areas and follow Venezuelan government advisories
Stock essentials: Water, food, medications (infrastructure disruptions ongoing)
Monitor communications: The Portuguese government is evaluating dispatch of search-and-rescue teams and humanitarian aid, though airport closures and damaged roads complicate deployment
Embassy and consular staff, alongside Portuguese community associations, have been conducting outreach. Secretary of State Emídio Sousa acknowledged: "The situation is difficult, with several building collapses. Communications remain patchy in some zones, but we are actively monitoring and will provide updates as new information emerges."
International Mobilization Underway
Portugal's Response:
• President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa issued a statement expressing "deep consternation" and pledging to "monitor developments with concern"
• The Regional Government of Madeira, which has deep historical ties to Venezuela through centuries of emigration, issued a separate declaration of solidarity
• President Miguel Albuquerque emphasized that the disaster is "felt particularly closely by the Madeiran people"
Global Support:
• Italy announced activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity: "Our thoughts are especially with the victims and their families"
• United States pledged search-and-rescue teams, medical aid, and humanitarian assistance
• Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva directed assessment of conditions and support measures
• Solidarity offers received from Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Jordan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Turkey, the United Kingdom, plus the UN and multilateral financial institutions
Finding Missing Persons: "Venezuela te busca"
A critical solidarity initiative, "Venezuela te busca" (Venezuela Is Looking for You), has launched a free online registry where families can report missing persons and mark loved ones as found. As of Thursday evening, the platform listed nearly 1,000 individuals with uncertain whereabouts, though only three had been confirmed safe.
President Rodríguez called for national unity and urged all healthcare workers to report to hospitals and clinics to handle the surge in casualties.
The Hours Ahead
The shallow depth of the quakes, combined with Venezuela's crumbling infrastructure and the density of urban centers, has set the stage for what could become one of the deadliest natural disasters in South American history.
For Portuguese families with relatives in Venezuela, the coming days will be defined by uncertainty, urgent communication attempts, and the hope that loved ones emerge safe from collapsed structures. Consular staff remain mobilized, and the international community continues mobilizing resources for what promises to be a prolonged and complex recovery effort.
