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The U.S. Southern Command conducted an aerial reconnaissance on Saturday over the areas hardest hit by the earthquakes on June 24 in Venezuela, according to images published by the military command on its social media.
The Major General Kevin J. Jarrard of the Marine Corps, and the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, John M. Barrett, conducted the flyover alongside search and rescue teams and Venezuelan officials to coordinate relief operations.
The photographs show the tropical coastline from inside a military helicopter, as well as the extent of the damage: buildings completely collapsed in coastal areas, crushed concrete slabs, and heavy machinery working among the rubble.
"Working together to provide life-saving assistance," wrote Southern Command when posting the images, which also show personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Florida Task Force, and Marines operating on the ground.
The two consecutive earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, just 39 seconds apart, are the most destructive seismic event recorded in the country in 126 years.
The epicenters were located in the states of Yaracuy and Carabobo, with depths ranging from 10 to 20 kilometers, which amplified the surface impact.
The official toll, according to the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, increases to 1,430 deceased and over 3,328 injured. More than 54,000 people remain unaccounted for.
The UN estimates that 6.76 million people were affected, including approximately two million in Caracas, where at least 346 buildings collapsed.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a red alert —the highest level— and projected with a 42% probability that the final number of casualties could be between 10,000 and 100,000.
The U.S. response, led by the State Department with support from the Department of Defense, includes $150 million in humanitarian aid authorized by President Trump: $100 million to the UN fund and $50 million to bilateral organizations.
Additionally, the administration temporarily suspended economic sanctions on Venezuela for four months, until October 23, 2026, to facilitate aid.
The Southern Command deployed urban rescue teams from Fairfax (Virginia) and Los Angeles (California), each with 80 experts, in addition to specialized canine units, five C-17 Globemaster aircraft, and helicopters pre-positioned in Curacao.
It is the first time in years that U.S. military personnel are operating on Venezuelan soil in a humanitarian mission coordinated with local authorities.
This Saturday, new aftershocks were recorded, including a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that kept the population on alert. In total, at least 30 aftershocks have been counted since June 24, while 25 rescue teams from 17 countries, including Portugal and Spain, are operating in the affected areas.
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