Venezuela Earthquake June 2026: Travel Insurance, FCDO Advice and What British Nationals Must Know

What happened on 24 June 2026

At approximately 18:05 local time on 24 June 2026, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck northwestern Venezuela near the town of San Felipe, roughly 100 miles west of the capital Caracas. Thirty-nine seconds later, a second and larger earthquake measuring magnitude 7.5 struck near the town of Yumare, close to the first epicentre. The United States Geological Survey described the event as a seismic doublet, where a foreshock and mainshock occur in rapid succession in the same area.

The 7.5 magnitude mainshock is the strongest earthquake recorded in Venezuela and the surrounding region since the 1900s, making it the most significant seismic event in the country in more than 125 years. The depth of the first earthquake was approximately 8.2 miles, a relatively shallow depth that tends to produce stronger ground shaking at the surface compared to deeper events of the same magnitude.

The impact across Caracas was severe. AFP journalists on the ground reported a 22-story building completely destroyed in the Altamira neighbourhood of the capital. Dozens of buildings were reported to have collapsed across Caracas, including the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira municipalities identified by the Venezuelan Interior Minister as the worst-affected areas. Buildings also sustained damage or collapsed in Trujillo, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda and La Guaira on the northern coast. In the coastal state of Falcon, at least 32 people had been hospitalised and 15 remained trapped more than four hours after the earthquakes, according to the state governor. The Bolivar International Airport in Caracas sustained damage and all flights were suspended. A brief tsunami advisory was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands by the US National Weather Service but was later cancelled.

Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a national state of emergency and called for unity. The Ministry of Education announced that some schools would be used as emergency shelters. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that US search teams, medical resources and humanitarian aid were being deployed. Search and rescue operations were ongoing as of the morning of 25 June 2026, with casualty figures likely to rise significantly.

FCDO travel advice: what it means for British nationals

The FCDO updated its Venezuela travel advice page on 25 June 2026 to note explicitly that international airports in Venezuela are temporarily closed following the earthquakes of 24 June 2026. The FCDO had already been advising against all travel to Venezuela ahead of the earthquake, citing the country's political instability, security situation, risk of arbitrary detention and severely limited consular support capacity. The earthquake has added a further acute layer to an already severe advisory.

British nationals already in Venezuela are advised to follow the guidance of local authorities, stay away from damaged buildings, and be prepared to change their plans quickly. The FCDO recommends that anyone who needs government assistance call the FCDO emergency line. Contact details are listed on the GOV.UK Venezuela travel advice page. Nationals who are unaffected should let friends and family in the UK know they are safe.

The FCDO explicitly states on its Venezuela travel advice page that British nationals who are living or travelling in Venezuela should be prepared to leave the country if circumstances allow, should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on UK government support, and should ensure their travel documents are valid and accessible. Consular support for British nationals in Venezuela has previously been described by the FCDO as severely limited in some circumstances, particularly in cases involving detention.

Travel insurance: what is and is not covered

The insurance implications of the Venezuela earthquakes vary significantly depending on when a traveller booked their trip, when they purchased travel insurance, and whether they are already in the country or have not yet travelled.

For travellers who purchased travel insurance before the FCDO updated its advice following the earthquakes and who have not yet travelled, the position depends on the specific policy wording. Many travel insurance policies include cancellation cover that pays out if the FCDO changes its advice for the destination after the policy was purchased, rendering travel inadvisable. Travellers in this position should check their policy wording, contact their insurer directly, and not assume they are covered without verification. They should also check whether their airline or tour operator is offering refunds or free changes in light of the airport closure.

For travellers who purchased travel insurance at a time when the FCDO already advised against all travel to Venezuela, which has been the case for an extended period prior to the earthquake, most standard policies will not cover the trip at all. The FCDO makes clear on its travel advice guidance pages that policies are typically invalidated when a traveller goes to a destination where FCDO advises against all travel, and that this applies to any claim arising from the trip, not just claims related to the event that prompted the advice.

For British nationals already in Venezuela at the time of the earthquakes, the insurance position is more complex. Where a policy was purchased before the travel warning was in place and the policyholder was already in the country legally at the time the earthquakes occurred, emergency medical and evacuation cover may still apply. However, cover for any new claims arising from continuing to stay in the country after the current advice has been reinforced may be affected. Travellers in this situation should contact their insurer directly and follow FCDO guidance rather than assume coverage.

If you have a package holiday booked to Venezuela or the wider Caribbean

British nationals who booked package holidays to Venezuela through a UK tour operator that is ATOL-registered or ABTA-bonded may have additional financial protection if their holiday is cancelled as a result of the situation. ATOL protection applies where the package holiday includes flights and has been booked through an authorised travel agent or tour operator. Where a package is cancelled by the operator, customers are entitled to a full refund or alternative arrangements under the Package Travel Regulations 2018.

Some travellers to neighbouring Caribbean destinations, including Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, experienced disruption in January 2026 when Venezuelan airspace was temporarily closed following a separate political incident. Similar airspace disruption is possible following the earthquake and airport closure. Travellers with itineraries that route through Venezuelan airspace should check with their airline for updates.

The broader context: Venezuela's pre-existing travel risk profile

Venezuela has been in the FCDO's most severe travel advisory category for an extended period. Prior to the earthquake, the FCDO was advising against all travel to significant parts of the country, including all travel to the Orinoco Mining Arc region south of the Orinoco river, all travel to Zulia state, and all travel within 80 kilometres of the Colombian border. The advice noted risks including violent crime, kidnapping, arbitrary detention of foreign nationals including Europeans, severely limited consular support capacity, and chronic shortages of healthcare, electricity, water and fuel.

The earthquake significantly worsens an already difficult environment for anyone in the country. Healthcare infrastructure that was already severely strained faces an acute emergency. Communication networks in parts of Caracas were disrupted by the loss of cellphone signal following the earthquakes, as reported by CBS News. Power outages affected parts of the capital. These conditions make the standard earthquake safety guidance, which includes monitoring local emergency broadcasts and following local authority instructions, particularly difficult to implement in practice.

How to contact the FCDO and what assistance is available

British nationals in Venezuela who need consular assistance should contact the FCDO emergency line. The number is listed on the GOV.UK Venezuela travel advice page and is available around the clock. In practice, the FCDO has consistently noted in its Venezuela travel advice that consular support may be severely limited, particularly in cases involving detention by Venezuelan authorities, medical emergencies in areas with no functioning healthcare infrastructure, or situations where British nationals have been travelling against FCDO advice.

The FCDO does not operate an evacuation service for British nationals in crisis situations abroad. Nationals in Venezuela who need to leave the country must arrange their own departure, and the closure of Caracas international airport means departure by air is not currently possible. Some land border crossings into Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago or Brazil may be an option for those able to reach them safely, but the FCDO has warned that border security and conditions at crossing points may be unpredictable in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Friends and family of British nationals in Venezuela who are unable to make contact should not immediately assume the worst, as cellphone signal and internet connectivity was disrupted in parts of Caracas following the earthquakes. The FCDO has an emergency travel advice line for concerned family members in the UK, the details of which are available on the GOV.UK website. The British Red Cross also operates a tracing service for people trying to locate relatives in disaster situations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FCDO advice for Venezuela as of 25 June 2026?

The FCDO advises against all travel to Venezuela. It has additionally noted that international airports in Venezuela are temporarily closed following the 24 June 2026 earthquakes. British nationals already in Venezuela should follow local authority guidance and contact the FCDO emergency line if they need consular assistance.

Is my travel insurance valid if I travel to Venezuela?

Standard travel insurance policies are invalidated by travel to destinations where the FCDO advises against all travel. If you travel to Venezuela against FCDO advice, you will not be covered by a standard policy for any claim arising from the trip. Specialist high-risk travel insurance that explicitly covers travel against FCDO advice exists but is significantly more expensive and has different terms.

Can I get a refund if my trip to Venezuela is cancelled?

If your tour operator cancels your package holiday, you are entitled to a full refund under the Package Travel Regulations 2018. If you booked a flight only, contact your airline directly. If you booked through an ATOL-registered operator and they cannot operate your holiday, ATOL protection entitles you to a refund or repatriation if you are already abroad.

What should I do if I am stranded in Venezuela?

Contact the FCDO emergency line using the number listed on the GOV.UK Venezuela travel advice page. Follow local authority instructions. Do not attempt to travel to the closed airport without confirmation that it has reopened. Contact your insurer and airline to understand your options.

What were the magnitudes of the Venezuela earthquakes?

Two earthquakes struck northwestern Venezuela on the evening of 24 June 2026 within 39 seconds of each other. The first had a magnitude of 7.2 and the second, the mainshock, had a magnitude of 7.5. The USGS described them as a seismic doublet. The 7.5 magnitude mainshock is the strongest earthquake recorded in Venezuela in more than 125 years.