Venezuela Earthquakes: Overlooked Coastal Communities Face Devastation

On June 24, 2026, a seismic doublet struck Venezuela’s northern coast at 6:04 p.m., causing catastrophic damage to La Guaira and Caracas. While these urban centers dominated global news cycles, smaller coastal communities in Carabobo and Falcón states suffered severe, underreported devastation.

La Guaira, home to approximately 400,000 people, was declared a disaster zone with thousands of fatalities. The World Bank estimated structural damage at USD 19.6 billion. However, the human toll in neighboring towns remained largely invisible to international audiences.

In Morón, located just 21 kilometers east of the epicenter, 60 families were affected, and 40 lost their homes entirely. Preliminary reports indicated nine fatalities in the area. Boca de Aroa, situated between Morón and Tucacas, faced severe impacts on housing and public services. Initial documentation recorded 87 damaged homes and 252 displaced residents, alongside soil liquefaction, ground fissures, and damage to electrical infrastructure.

Photographer Saúl Zerpa documented these overlooked areas through his project “The Sigh of the Earth.” His work captures the lived experience of residents who remain absent from the public agenda. In Boca de Aroa, 128 homes were declared uninhabitable. Residents described the psychological weight of losing their primary structures, with one stating, “I can’t leave this place. I don’t want to leave my house alone.”

The disparity in coverage highlights a broader issue: Venezuela’s housing crisis and lack of enforced building regulations have exacerbated disaster impacts. While La Guaira’s destruction near the international airport drew immediate attention, the quiet devastation in Morón and Boca de Aroa persists without proportional support or visibility.