On July 5, 2026, Venezuela celebrated its 215th Independence Day. But the celebration came just eleven days after two massive earthquakes killed more than 3,300 people and destroyed homes along the country's northern coast.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez spoke at a military ceremony on Independence Day. She had taken power in January 2026 after the U.S. military removed President Nicolás Maduro from office and sent him to New York to face trial for drug and weapons charges. At the ceremony, Rodriguez emphasized that Venezuela would remain stable and united. "There will be no social unrest here," she said, according to Al Jazeera. She warned against any threats to Venezuela's government, saying "There can be no room for any kind of conspiracy, internal or external."

The earthquakes struck on June 24. The first measured 7.2 on the magnitude scale, and a second one measuring 7.5 followed immediately after. They destroyed buildings and killed thousands of people along Venezuela's northern coast, especially in the La Guaira area and around the capital, Caracas. Venezuela's government reported 3,342 confirmed deaths as of July 5, with more deaths likely and thousands still missing. About 16,470 people were injured and 17,345 lost their homes. Al Jazeera called it the deadliest disaster in Venezuela in 100 years — worse than a 1999 flood that killed tens of thousands of people.

What the Government Is Doing

On July 3, Rodriguez held a press conference with journalists. Some asked whether Venezuelans felt the government had abandoned them during the crisis, according to Colombian news outlet Semana. During this time, Rodriguez also asked the United States for help, though the details of her request were not made public.

Rodriguez called on the U.S. and other countries to stop the economic sanctions (trade restrictions) against Venezuela. She said the sanctions were making it harder for the country to recover, according to Venezuela's Foreign Ministry mppre.gob.ve.

The Venezuelan military and government combined their resources to search for survivors in La Guaira, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology mincyt.gob.ve. The government also worked with international aid organizations to help people in need. On July 5, the government announced a special economic plan with ten major goals to help the country recover.

Portugal announced a National Day of Mourning on July 5 to show respect for the earthquake victims. This was a significant gesture because many Venezuelans live in Portugal, according to mppre.gob.ve.

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela's main opposition leader, did not return to the country for Independence Day. She left Venezuela in secret in December 2025 to accept a Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting democracy. She has not been back since.

Rodriguez's speech focused on strength and unity at a military event rather than to ordinary citizens in the streets. This choice of audience suggests where the government believes it has the most control. The government is also making two different appeals at the same time: asking the U.S. for help while warning Venezuelans not to challenge the government. As the weeks go on, it will become clear whether the government's rescue efforts and recovery plan are enough to help the thousands of people who lost homes or loved ones.