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Venezuela Episcopalians join earthquake recovery efforts, as death toll surpasses 1,400

June 29, 2026

[Episcopal News Service] Venezuela is still in the early stages of recovering from back-to-back earthquakes that devastated the northern state of La Guaira and Caracas, the capital, last week. At least 1,450 people have died, and tens of thousands remain missing. All Episcopalians in the Diocese of Venezuela are accounted for and safe, and some of them are helping with recovery efforts. The diocesan center in Caracas, which sustained minor infrastructure damage, reopened as a collection center primarily with supplies for rescue personnel and anyone in need. And Episcopalians have volunteered to drive around the city on motorcycles to distribute some of the supplies. “Right now, we are addressing high-priority needs,” Pragedes Coromoto Jiménez de Salazar, the diocese’s communications director, told Episcopal News Service in a WhatsApp message. She also serves as secretary of the diocesan standing committee and diocesan convention. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck Venezuela northwest of Caracas 39 seconds apart on June 24. They caused widespread damages to buildings and structures and cut off running water and gas services in many homes. The Iglesia Anglicana Episcopal La Reconciliación in Caracas and the Iglesia de San Andrés in Catia sustained minor infrastructure damage. The Rev. Ana Graciela Anthony, president of the standing committee, will inspect the diocesan center and the damaged churches’ structural integrity once transportation is available, Jiménez de Salazar said. The Rev. Jose Francisco Salazar, a priest in the Diocese of Venezuela, is now leading a diocesan earthquake response team. The Rev. Rodolfo Albarran, a deacon who leads the Misión Santos Ángeles Custodios, is co-coordinating pastoral, medical and community responses with public and private organizations. The Diocese of Venezuela, which is part of The Episcopal Church’s Province IX, has nine clergy serving 15 organized missions throughout the South American country’s 23 states and Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island country located about 40 miles north of Venezuela’s coast. The earthquakes didn’t affect All Saints Episcopal Church in Willemstead, Curaçao’s capital. Nevertheless, “We offer our sincere prayers for our brothers and sisters,” the Rev. Joe Parrish, a priest serving All Saints, and senior warden Ivy Doorstam told ENS. Litoral Ecuador Bishop Cristóbal Olmedo León Lozano serves as the provisional bishop of Venezuela. Salazar, Jimenez de Salazar and other church leaders have been communicating with the bishop and the Rev. David Ulloa Chavez, The Episcopal Church’s partnership officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, to provide updates. Episcopal Relief and Development launched a disaster fund to support on-the-ground immediate and long-term recovery support led by partners in Venezuela. “We are working here for the good of the community,” Jiménez de Salazar, who is part of the diocesan response team, said. “Please pray for us.” -Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.