Venezuelans have turned to social media and online registries to locate relatives reported missing after two large earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday evening.

Health Minister Carlos Alvarado reported that the death toll rose to about 235 and that at least 4,300 people were injured, with casualty numbers expected to increase.

The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes caused widespread damage across several states, particularly in La Guaira north of Caracas, where many buildings collapsed.

Independent registries have recorded up to 40,000 people missing, far exceeding official government figures. Relatives have posted photos and personal information on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and X to seek updates.

Vanesa Marcano, a 31‑year‑old woman living in Madrid, posted images of her uncle and aunt from La Guaira, hoping they were only out of contact. She said she felt uncertainty about their condition.

Hughes Concalves, a resident of Catia La Mar, last spoke with his partner and her daughter minutes before the shaking; after the quake he posted a missing notice on X and Facebook, expressing hope that they survived.

The government had blocked several social media services in August 2024, complicating information flow. The United Nations called on authorities to restore unrestricted access to social media, saying timely information can save lives. Following the appeal, access to X was restored in Venezuela.

Many Venezuelans living abroad rely on these platforms to contact family members, as migration has left millions unable to obtain reliable updates.

The search remains ongoing, with families hoping for rescue or confirmation of their relatives' condition.

Neighbors in northern Venezuela dug through rubble after two back-to-back earthquakes killed more than 230 people and injured thousands on Wednesday evening in La Guaira and Caracas.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes were among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century and were felt across the region.

The official death toll rose to about 235, with at least 4,300 people injured, according to Health Minister Carlos Alvarado.

Rescue operations continued through the night, with volunteers and local residents searching through collapsed buildings while government teams were deployed to the areas with the most severe damage.

State television broadcast images of a woman rescued from under a cement slab and of a girl emerging from a collapsed 10‑story building, but few government search teams were visible outside Caracas initially.

The main airport in La Guaira was closed because of damage, hindering the delivery of aid.

Venezuelan authorities said they were moving rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira and creating a $200 million fund for reconstruction of hospitals and homes.

President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and appealed to businesses to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue work.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was deploying a whole‑of‑government response, though the airport closure complicated logistics.

International partners pledged assistance: rescue workers and aid arrived from Chile, a team of 80 specialists with search dogs came from Switzerland, Turkey announced two flights with military and medical personnel, China said it would provide aid, and leaders from Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal and Canada committed to sending help.

Rescue teams from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Turkey and other countries also arrived, while the Venezuelan diaspora organized donations in countries such as Ecuador and the United States.

UN officials urged the government to lift social media restrictions so information about life‑saving assistance could be shared.

The number of missing persons remained unconfirmed, and rescue efforts faced continued challenges from damaged infrastructure and limited access.

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast on Wednesday, killing more than 180 people, injuring about 1,500 and leaving thousands missing. A magnitude 7.2 quake occurred first, followed by a magnitude 7.5 quake 39 seconds later, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The events are an example of a doublet, defined as two similarly sized quakes that occur close together in time and place, the USGS said. The quakes took place along the Bocono fault, which runs about 300 miles (500 kilometers) through the Venezuelan Andes. A similar doublet of magnitudes 6.2 and 6.3 struck west of Caracas in September 2025, killing at least one person and injuring more than 100, mainly in Zulia and Lara states.

The Caribbean plate moves eastward relative to the South American plate at roughly 0.79 inches (2 centimeters) per year, producing a shallow strike‑slip fault. The movement is not inherently more dangerous, USGS scientist Christine Goulet noted, though the length of the rupture influences damage.

In the past century, only seven magnitude 6 or higher earthquakes have occurred near the recent epicenters, including the 2025 doublet and events in 2009, 1989 and 1975. The most destructive historic quake in the area was a magnitude 6.6 event in July 1967 that caused hundreds of deaths. A 1812 quake on the Bocono fault system killed an estimated 30,000 people.

Scientists cannot predict earthquakes, but aftershocks are expected. USGS estimates a 99% chance of at least one magnitude 4 aftershock in the next week and a 24% chance of a magnitude 6 aftershock. Venezuela does not have an early earthquake warning system, which the agency said limited evacuation time.

The National Park Service said a liner at the bottom of the Washington DC Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor on June 9, causing damage to the foam sealant installed during a recent rehabilitation project. The 2,030‑foot basin between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument had been drained and a tinted polyurea liner installed as part of a multi‑million‑dollar renovation that began in April and concluded in June, ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Frank Lands, deputy director of operations for the park service, said in a court filing that US Park Police responded to a report of the incident on June 9 and that the police report documented a cut in the caulk over the foam sealant and destruction of delaminating surface material, as well as the throwing of about 70 fence post tops into the pool. The filing, part of a lawsuit filed by a nonprofit seeking to halt the Trump administration’s work at the site, did not identify a perpetrator or specify the exact time of the damage. Five individuals have been arrested for vandalism related to the pool, and five others received federal citations, according to US Park Police. The NPS plans to drain the pool again after Independence Day celebrations on July 4 to assess and repair the liner. The incident highlights ongoing maintenance challenges at the historic pool, which has long suffered from leaks, structural deterioration, algae growth and bird droppings.

North Korea conducted major weapons tests on June 23, 2026 after leader Kim Jong Un observed the trials and called for an offensive posture intended to create constant uneasiness among enemies, state news agency KCNA reported. Seoul said on Friday that it will train 500,000 drone operators to use drones as personal weapons, expanding its drone capacity in response to the North’s growing capabilities. The tested systems included a special mission ballistic missile warhead, an upgraded rocket launcher with extended range and a self‑propelled gun‑howitzer, the Associated Press reported. KCNA said the warhead was designed to inflict fatal damage on major enemy targets such as airfields, ports and power facilities, and Kim said the results demonstrated progress in firing capabilities along the southern border. Analysts suggested the upgrades enable North Korea to strike across the whole of South Korea. The United States maintains about 28,500 troops at its bases in South Korea, and Pyongyang has sought to strengthen its military since diplomatic talks stalled in 2019. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said former President Donald Trump told him the time had come to pay attention to the North Korea issue. Defence Minister Ahn Gyu‑back said the army will train 500,000 “drone warriors” capable of using drones like personal firearms, noting urgent need to respond to the evolving threat and that North Korea is receiving technological assistance from Russia. President Lee announced plans to develop five defence firms worth $650 million by 2030. The escalation raises questions about the future of inter‑Korean relations and the scale of South Korea’s drone program.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan said all teams at the FIFA World Cup should be treated equally under FIFA’s rules of respect and fair play. Speaking at a news conference in Seattle, Hassan offered support to Iran ahead of their final group‑stage match on Friday.

The United States, cohost of the tournament, imposed travel restrictions that limited Iran’s arrival in Seattle to one day before the match and required departure immediately after play. US authorities later eased the rules, allowing Iran to arrive two days early.

Hassan emphasized that FIFA seeks fairness for all participants, saying “the Iranian team is one of the teams I respect very much.” Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoei noted that the travel policies hindered preparation but said his squad will overcome the challenges.

Ghalenoei also praised Egypt’s organization and the quality of its players, including Mohamed Salah, stating that Egypt is a well‑planned side. He added that his team will not focus solely on stopping Salah.

Egypt leads Group C with four points and can qualify with a draw, while Iran sit second with two points, alongside Belgium and New Zealand. Both coaches reiterated mutual respect as the match approaches.