Dust-covered U.S. Marines rest on earthquake debris alongside Venezuelan police during a pause in search and rescue operations in Venezuela, June 29, 2026. U.S. Southern Command said crews have been operating day and night to locate survivors of the June 24 earthquakes that killed at least 1,450 people. (U.S. Southern Command)
U.S. Marines continue to dig through the rubble in northern Venezuela, part of a growing international effort to locate survivors after back-to-back earthquakes hit the country last week.
Military personnel are “racing against the clock” to locate people still buried under debris, U.S. Southern Command said in a statement Monday.
“Operating day and night, these crews continue to support international search and rescue operations across the hardest-hit communities,” the command said.
In coordination with local emergency responders, the Marines are working in dangerous terrain as they navigate hazardous debris and collapsed buildings, SOUTHCOM said.
A Venezuelan rescue worker grips a U.S. Marine's hand as he pushes through a narrow gap in earthquake debris during search operations in Venezuela, June 29, 2026. U.S. Marines are working alongside local and international rescue teams racing to find survivors after the June 24 earthquakes. (U.S. Southern Command)
A Venezuelan rescue worker assists a U.S. Marine as he crawls through a gap in collapsed debris during search and rescue operations in Venezuela, June 29, 2026. U.S. Marines are working alongside local and international rescue teams as they race to find survivors after back-to-back earthquakes killed at least 1,450 people. (U.S. Southern Command)
A U.S. Marine searches through the interior of a collapsed building during nighttime rescue operations in Venezuela, June 29, 2026. U.S. Southern Command said crews are operating day and night to locate survivors of the June 24 earthquakes that killed at least 1,450 people. (U.S. Southern Command)
U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s have been flying in and out of the area along with U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, which have been transporting personnel.
U.S. Army CH-47 Chinooks were expected to arrive on the scene Sunday. U.S. Navy warships also are docked off Venezuela’s coast to support the growing effort.
As of Sunday, at least 1,450 people had died as a result of the earthquakes, which hit on Wednesday in Yaracuy state, west of the capital Caracas. The first had a magnitude of 7.2 and was followed less than a minute later by a magnitude-7.5 quake. Thousands of people are still missing.
SOUTHCOM, which is leading the U.S. military’s portion of the rescue effort, continues to move more resources into the area. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Kevin Jarrard arrived in Venezuela soon after the earthquakes to oversee military efforts on the ground.
The command said its operations are self-sustaining, with personnel on the ground requiring no local resources.
A U.S. Marine removes debris alongside local volunteers during nighttime search and rescue operations in Venezuela, June 29, 2026. (U.S. Southern Command)
A U.S. Marine works through collapsed debris alongside rescue workers during search operations in Venezuela, June 29, 2026. (U.S. Southern Command)
The disaster comes at a time of political upheaval in the country, which has been in a state of economic disarray for decades. In January, U.S. special operations forces launched a daring raid that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Since then, an interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez has pursued a more cooperative posture toward Washington.
SOUTHCOM said Venezuela’s government had requested U.S. earthquake assistance.
