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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, who survived for nearly eight days beneath the rubble. Photo: AFP

Earthquakes

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

Security guard recalls surviving darkness, aftershocks and walls shifting before his miraculous rescue from a collapsed building.

6 Jul 2026 - 3:40PMvideocam

Natural disasters

Venezuela leader vows ‘no social unrest’ as quakes toll passes 3,300

6 Jul 2026 - 11:36AMvideocam

Natural disasters

Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000

5 Jul 2026 - 4:58AMvideocam

Natural disasters

Fallout from Venezuela’s quakes turns political, as Machado seeks return

Amid growing anger over the government’s disaster response, the exiled Nobel Peace laureate says the country needs ‘figures it can trust’.

4 Jul 2026 - 5:13AMvideocam

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado leads a demonstration in Caracas in January 2025. Photo: dpa

Earthquakes

Venezuela’s leader defends quake response as thousands remain missing

In her first press conference since taking power after Maduro’s capture by the US, Rodriguez lashes critics.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:01PMvideocam

Natural disasters

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

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

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

2 Jul 2026 - 10:30PM

A Brazilian rescuer works in the aftermath of earthquakes in Venezuela. Photo: Reuters

United States

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

A public health emergency in Venezuela, unless quickly controlled, could take more lives in the days and weeks ahead.

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

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

‘We are going to keep at it’: Venezuela quake victim vows to keep digging for family

02:18

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

A US Marines helicopter overflies a quake-hit area in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela. Photo: AFP

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

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

An aerial view shows the catastrophic destruction of flattened housing structures in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photo: Handout via Reuters

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

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

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

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

Rescuers work at a building damaged by an earthquake in the Altamira area of Caracas, Venezuela, on June 25. Photo: EPA

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

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

02:42

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

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

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Venezuela

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

Security guard recalls surviving darkness, aftershocks and walls shifting before his miraculous rescue from a collapsed building.

Venezuela leader vows ‘no social unrest’ as quakes toll passes 3,300

Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000

Fallout from Venezuela’s quakes turns political, as Machado seeks return

Amid growing anger over the government’s disaster response, the exiled Nobel Peace laureate says the country needs ‘figures it can trust’.

Venezuela’s leader defends quake response as thousands remain missing

In her first press conference since taking power after Maduro’s capture by the US, Rodriguez lashes critics.

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

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

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

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

A public health emergency in Venezuela, unless quickly controlled, could take more lives in the days and weeks ahead.

.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.

Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes

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