More than 2600 people have died following two earthquakes that hit Caracas and surrounding regions on 24 June 2026, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude.
Thousands of people are still unaccounted for and the death toll keeps climbing.
New Zealand's Venezuelan community has organised fundraising to support people affected by the disaster. The 2023 Census recorded 198 Venezuelans living in New Zealand.
Maria Elena Billini and her daughter Jess Fajardo operated a Venezuelan hotdog fundraiser from their Auckland CBD restaurant on Saturday, directing proceeds to humanitarian aid agencies.
Billini said two family friends were killed when their holiday home building collapsed in Higuerote, a coastal town east of Caracas.
Fajardo said every second person in New Zealand's Venezuelan community knew a friend or family member who had either been killed or lost their home and possessions in the earthquakes.
She said the rebuilding process would be long and difficult for Venezuelans, who were not earning much and would be reconstructing their lives with little government assistance.
Fernando Linares, who moved to New Zealand more than ten years ago, said his mother and sister got out of their Caracas apartment when the earthquake hit.
Cracks formed across the building's walls, though it has been deemed safe for residents to return. Linares said his family did not feel safe living in the building but had no choice.
He said he thought the government response was inadequate and that it might take decades for the country to recover.
"Nobody was prepared for that, not even the country, not a society, no one was prepared for that," Linares said.