Venezuela Oil Production Holds Amid Earthquake Outrage

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced on July 14, 2026, that Venezuela's oil production remains unaffected by the twin earthquakes that struck on June 24. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes killed at least 4,490 people, primarily in Caracas and the state of La Guaira. Because these regions sit between the Lake Maracaibo and Orinoco Belt production hubs, infrastructure was spared. Rodríguez reported that the country is currently pumping 1.2 million barrels per day, a 10 percent increase over last year following sector reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment after the January overthrow of Nicolás Maduro.

Despite the economic report, public outrage has grown over a perceived botched government response to the disaster. In La Guaira, residents reported digging relatives out of rubble by hand. Rodríguez dismissed these criticisms as a media campaign and warned that "wretched" critics of the government and armed forces "will be buried."

During a visit to a destroyed housing project in Catia La Mar, Congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra faced public hostility. When questioned about the structural integrity of government buildings, he claimed he was an economist rather than an architect. Meanwhile, the United States has deployed nearly 1,000 military personnel to assist the response. Reports indicate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is exerting significant control over the administration following the U.S.-led military intervention in January.