Canada Issues Emergency Travel Alert for Venezuela

People search for survivors while others try to salvage belongings in a collapsed building following an earthquake in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, some 30 kilometres northwest of Caracas, on June 25, 2026. Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP via Getty ImagesThe Canadian government is advising citizens to avoid all travel to Venezuela in the wake of catastrophic twin earthquakes that struck the country’s northern coastline this week, causing widespread damage and death.The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes hit Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira only seconds apart on June 24, resulting in the collapse of numerous buildings, displacing thousands of residents while placing intense pressure on local emergency services.Official reports indicate at least 920 fatalities and more than 3,360 injuries, but thousands more have not been accounted for.A state of emergency is in effect in Venezuela, and the Canadian advisory notes that aftershocks could still occur, causing further damage to infrastructure. The Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas is closed and train service is suspended, the advisory said.The region is also beset with power distribution issues, limited water and food supply, and disruption of telecommunications networks, emergency services, and medical care.Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada is preparing humanitarian aid to support Venezuelans “in the days and weeks ahead.”Canadians in the area are advised to “follow the instructions of local authorities, and monitor local media for updates on the situation.”“Do not enter weakened or damaged structures until local authorities have deemed them safe,” the notice added.Canadians who choose to travel to Venezuela despite the advisory are urged to prepare to shelter in place and ensure a sufficient supply of essential items such as food, water, cash, and medication.They are also urged to register or update their contact information with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. The free service helps the government locate Canadians during crises, such as natural disasters or civil unrest.This week’s earthquake is the deadliest to strike the country in more than a century.Canada has had a standing advisory in place for Venezuela since February 2019 when the Canadian embassy closed in the country. “Our ability to provide consular assistance to Canadians in Venezuela is severely limited and done remotely,” the travel advisory says.The government has maintained a maximum warning ever since due to rampant violent crime, severe shortages of basic necessities, arbitrary detention risks, and ongoing political and economic instabilityIt last updated the advisory following U.S. military strikes on Jan. 3 on several sites in Venezuela, including military facilities, in the city of Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.The Associated Press contributed to this report.