Franklin Graham Visits Emergency Field Hospital in Earthquake-Devastated Venezuela

Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, toured an emergency field hospital in Venezuela operated by his organization to assist survivors of devastating earthquakes. Graham traveled with his daughter, Cissie Graham Lynch, to support relief efforts and provide encouragement to medical teams treating earthquake victims who have experienced catastrophic losses.

Two powerful earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on June 24, occurring just 37 seconds apart according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Venezuelan authorities reported more than 5,000 deaths and more than 16,000 injuries from the disaster, with the coastal city of La Guaira among the hardest-hit areas.

The Samaritan’s Purse field hospital in La Guaira has treated more than 2,500 patients since opening, operating two surgical suites, a pharmacy and laboratory while continuing orthopedic procedures and addressing infections and untreated conditions. The organization deployed more than 170 Disaster Assistance Response Team members to affected regions including La Guaira, Playa Grande and Caraballeda, with additional support provided through church partners in Caracas.

Relief operations have included six Boeing 767 cargo flights delivering 295 tons of supplies—the first non-military aircraft to arrive in Venezuela following the earthquakes. More than 10,200 families have received emergency provisions including tents, tarps, solar lights, blankets, hygiene kits, cooking sets and Spanish Bibles.

Beyond field medical care, Samaritan’s Purse installed four emergency clinic modules for local healthcare facilities with a fifth opening soon, and deployed two desalination units that have produced more than 154,000 liters of clean water. Nearly every patient treated has lost family members or close friends in the disaster.