Earthquakes in Venezuela expose a severely under-resourced and unprepared healthcare system

Two physicians discuss the ongoing earthquake relief efforts in their home country of Venezuela and explain what the healthcare system was like before the disaster.

By: Hermes Florez, Medical University of South Carolina and Zeina Hannoush, University of Miami, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 9, 2026

Words: 1,388

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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By Hermes Florez, Medical University of South Carolina and Zeina Hannoush, University of Miami

Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, causing major damage in Caracas and a nearby coastal city, La Guaira. At the time of publication, 3,685 people have been declared dead, and more than 30,000 remain missing.

Dr. Hermes Florez and Dr. Zeina Hannoush are physicians who trained in Venezuela, then immigrated to the United States, where …

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