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Venezuela

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America. Home to an estimated population of 29.1 million, it covers around 916,445 square kilometres which includes the Andes mountains and the Amazon Basin Rainforest. Its main export is oil. Venezuela was colonized by Spain in 1522 but continued resistance led in 1811 to it becoming the first Spanish American country to declare independence. A chequered political history followed which saw dictatorships rise and fall, as well as military coups.

Capital

Caracas

Head of State

President Nicolás Maduro

Head of Government

President Nicolás Maduro

Hernan Gil, a survivor of Venezuela’s twin earthquakes, is helped by rescuers before being rushed into an ambulance in Catia La Mar on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Natural disasters

Venezuelan man rescued from rubble 8 days after twin quakes: ‘truly a miracle’

Teams from seven countries worked for days to reach security guard Hernan Gil, who was dug out from the ruins of a collapsed building.

6 minutes ago

China-Latin America relations

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

3 hours ago

United States

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

2 Jul 2026 - 4:25PMvideocam

Earthquakes

Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes

News of the rescue came as Venezuela’s death toll rose above 1,700 on Monday.

1 Jul 2026 - 6:16PM

00:38

Earthquakes

Video | Man digs through Venezuela quake debris to search for family

Quake victims have accused authorities of being too slow in mobilising rescue efforts including sending heavy equipment to help search for more survivors.

1 Jul 2026 - 3:50PM

Nicolas Maduro

From raid to relief: US military aids Venezuela after twin earthquakes

US deploys forces and drone assets to spearhead relief, marking a stunning shift for a relationship upended by a raid six months ago.

1 Jul 2026 - 10:50PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela survivors pulled from rubble days after quakes

Amid diminishing hope, a preliminary assessment via satellite data says the two earthquakes likely damaged or destroyed 58,870 buildings.

30 Jun 2026 - 9:25PM

US firefighters on Sunday pulled a survivor from the rubble of a building that collapsed in Wednesday’s earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photo: AP

China's military weapons

Should China worry more about keeping defence customers than winning new deals?

A study of the risks and opportunities for Chinese weapons exports in global markets cautions against a reductive assumption about quality.

30 Jun 2026 - 5:55PMvideocam

Earthquakes

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:40PMvideocam

United States

Over 100 Venezuelans deported from US missing after quakes level hotel

Their flight landed just hours before the disaster. Their families are searching for answers amid a soaring death toll.

30 Jun 2026 - 10:16AMvideocam

A satellite view captures the extensive structural damage at the Hotel Santuario La Llanada in La Guaira, where more than 100 US deportees had arrived hours earlier. Photo: Vantor via Reuters

China-Latin America relations

‘Venezuela is our home’: Chinese Venezuelans rally after earthquakes

Merchants across the country transformed shops, warehouses and community networks into a relief effort after the deadliest quakes in decades.

30 Jun 2026 - 8:40AMvideocam

Relief supplies collected on Margarita Island await transport to earthquake-hit communities. Signs in Spanish and Chinese identify the donations as coming from Venezuela’s Chinese community. Photo: Handout

Earthquakes

Video | Venezuelan rescuers pull survivors from rubble 5 days after deadly quakes

Experts say the first 72 hours after natural disasters are critical for saving those trapped, but after that the search turns to recovering bodies.

29 Jun 2026 - 8:26PM

China-Latin America relations

China pledges extra US$14.7 million in earthquake relief to Venezuela

Beijing is also providing satellite images of the affected areas, as Chinese businesses and overseas communities in the country pitch in.

29 Jun 2026 - 9:04PMvideocam

Earthquakes

Critical rescue window passes in quake-hit Venezuela as death toll nears 1,500

While a 21-year-old man was found alive after 106 hours trapped under rubble, hopes are fading for thousands of people unaccounted for.

29 Jun 2026 - 11:21PMvideocam

Rescuers search through the rubble in hard-hit La Guaira state. Photo: AP

Natural disasters

Venezuelan boy pulled alive from rubble 3 days after deadly quakes

Residents clawed away rubble from collapsed buildings in search of survivors, amid public outrage over the government’s response.

28 Jun 2026 - 3:57PMvideocam

A US military helicopter takes off after delivering humanitarian aid in La Guaira, Venezuela, on Saturday. Photo: AP

Americas and the Caribbean

Time runs out for thousands missing after Venezuela earthquakes

With at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing, a critical 72-hour window for rescuing survivors has almost closed.

27 Jun 2026 - 4:24PM

Earthquakes

Editorial | World quick to answer stricken Venezuela’s call for aid

Even countries that had broken off ties with Caracas have reached out to help, showing the power disaster has to unite people in adversity.

27 Jun 2026 - 6:45AM

Americas and the Caribbean

‘We’ll rescue the trapped’: Venezuela earthquakes death toll rises to 920

Tens of thousands are reported missing. Almost 3,000 people are confirmed hurt, says interim president. Millions could be affected.

27 Jun 2026 - 1:55AMvideocam

Neighbours and relatives work to rescue a person from the rubble of a building in La Guaira, Venezuela, after two earthquakes hit the country. Photo: Reuters

Venezuelan crisis

In Venezuela, China’s oil-for-loan deals run into huge US-led debt restructuring

Beijing’s influence in Caracas seen fading, with Washington controlling Venezuela’s oil revenues and debt overhaul, potentially triggering a stand-off.

26 Jun 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

Mainland China

Video | Venezuela twin quakes death toll hits 589 and rising

Thousands remain missing and many are feared dead after the country was hit by two of the strongest tremors in over a century.

26 Jun 2026 - 9:40PM

United States

US Supreme Court paves way for Trump’s mass deportation of Haitians, Syrians

Top court rules that the administration can strip protections from some 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians in the US.

26 Jun 2026 - 1:07PM

Immigration activists rally against the US Supreme Court’s ruling on temporary protective status in Washington on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Earthquakes

Venezuela earthquakes draw aid from governments that cut ties with Caracas

Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and other governments that suspended relations with the country offer rescue teams and humanitarian aid.

26 Jun 2026 - 8:52PMvideocam

Neighbours carry a man from the rubble of a collapsed building in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photo: AP

Natural disasters

Venezuela twin quakes death toll hits 235 as rescuers comb rubble for survivors

Thousands are missing and many feared dead after the country was hit by two of the strongest tremors in over a century.

26 Jun 2026 - 12:27PMvideocam

US-Venezuela conflict

As Venezuela reels from earthquake disaster, a test for new US relationship

Washington’s swift disaster response clearest indication yet of how relationship with Caracas has evolved, but bigger challenges lie ahead.

26 Jun 2026 - 6:14PMvideocam

United States

Trump opens 250th US birthday party with a campaign-style rally

The US president put himself and his policies at the centre of the opening event on the National Mall in Washington.

25 Jun 2026 - 2:49PM

US President Donald Trump doing his usual dance. Photo: Reuters

Natural disasters

Thousands feared dead after major earthquakes hit Venezuela

Venezuela’s president gives first death toll as Trump says the US is ‘ready, willing, and able to help’.

25 Jun 2026 - 8:32PMvideocam

A damaged building in Catia La Mar, some 30km northwest of Caracas. Photo: AFP

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25 Jun 2026 - 5:30AM

Americas and the Caribbean

Mexico seeks to restart oil shipments to energy-starved Cuba

President Claudia Sheinbaum plans to resume critical fuel deliveries using commercial firms that have permits.

23 Jun 2026 - 11:18AM

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Venezuela

Venezuelan man rescued from rubble 8 days after twin quakes: ‘truly a miracle’

Teams from seven countries worked for days to reach security guard Hernan Gil, who was dug out from the ruins of a collapsed building.

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes

News of the rescue came as Venezuela’s death toll rose above 1,700 on Monday.

Video | Man digs through Venezuela quake debris to search for family

Quake victims have accused authorities of being too slow in mobilising rescue efforts including sending heavy equipment to help search for more survivors.

From raid to relief: US military aids Venezuela after twin earthquakes

US deploys forces and drone assets to spearhead relief, marking a stunning shift for a relationship upended by a raid six months ago.

Venezuela survivors pulled from rubble days after quakes

Amid diminishing hope, a preliminary assessment via satellite data says the two earthquakes likely damaged or destroyed 58,870 buildings.

Should China worry more about keeping defence customers than winning new deals?

A study of the risks and opportunities for Chinese weapons exports in global markets cautions against a reductive assumption about quality.

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

Over 100 Venezuelans deported from US missing after quakes level hotel

Their flight landed just hours before the disaster. Their families are searching for answers amid a soaring death toll.

‘Venezuela is our home’: Chinese Venezuelans rally after earthquakes

Merchants across the country transformed shops, warehouses and community networks into a relief effort after the deadliest quakes in decades.

Video | Venezuelan rescuers pull survivors from rubble 5 days after deadly quakes

Experts say the first 72 hours after natural disasters are critical for saving those trapped, but after that the search turns to recovering bodies.

China pledges extra US$14.7 million in earthquake relief to Venezuela

Beijing is also providing satellite images of the affected areas, as Chinese businesses and overseas communities in the country pitch in.

Critical rescue window passes in quake-hit Venezuela as death toll nears 1,500

While a 21-year-old man was found alive after 106 hours trapped under rubble, hopes are fading for thousands of people unaccounted for.

Venezuelan boy pulled alive from rubble 3 days after deadly quakes

Residents clawed away rubble from collapsed buildings in search of survivors, amid public outrage over the government’s response.

Time runs out for thousands missing after Venezuela earthquakes

With at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing, a critical 72-hour window for rescuing survivors has almost closed.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | World quick to answer stricken Venezuela’s call for aid

Even countries that had broken off ties with Caracas have reached out to help, showing the power disaster has to unite people in adversity.

‘We’ll rescue the trapped’: Venezuela earthquakes death toll rises to 920

Tens of thousands are reported missing. Almost 3,000 people are confirmed hurt, says interim president. Millions could be affected.

In Venezuela, China’s oil-for-loan deals run into huge US-led debt restructuring

Beijing’s influence in Caracas seen fading, with Washington controlling Venezuela’s oil revenues and debt overhaul, potentially triggering a stand-off.

Video | Venezuela twin quakes death toll hits 589 and rising

Thousands remain missing and many are feared dead after the country was hit by two of the strongest tremors in over a century.

US Supreme Court paves way for Trump’s mass deportation of Haitians, Syrians

Top court rules that the administration can strip protections from some 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians in the US.

Venezuela earthquakes draw aid from governments that cut ties with Caracas

Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and other governments that suspended relations with the country offer rescue teams and humanitarian aid.

Venezuela twin quakes death toll hits 235 as rescuers comb rubble for survivors

Thousands are missing and many feared dead after the country was hit by two of the strongest tremors in over a century.

As Venezuela reels from earthquake disaster, a test for new US relationship

Washington’s swift disaster response clearest indication yet of how relationship with Caracas has evolved, but bigger challenges lie ahead.

Trump opens 250th US birthday party with a campaign-style rally

The US president put himself and his policies at the centre of the opening event on the National Mall in Washington.

Thousands feared dead after major earthquakes hit Venezuela

Venezuela’s president gives first death toll as Trump says the US is ‘ready, willing, and able to help’.

Opinion | 8 takeaways from the US-Iran war

From the rise of devastating asymmetric warfare to the crumbling of the US maritime hegemony and alliances, the war offers food for thought.

Mexico seeks to restart oil shipments to energy-starved Cuba

President Claudia Sheinbaum plans to resume critical fuel deliveries using commercial firms that have permits.

Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes

Editorial | World quick to answer stricken Venezuela’s call for aid