Venezuela Quakes Close Airports

What To Do If You Are Already in Venezuela

If you are already in an affected area, your first priority is personal safety rather than preserving your travel plans. Avoid damaged buildings, cracked roads, unstable coastal structures and areas where emergency teams are working. Keep your passport, phone, charger, medication, water, bank cards and some cash together in a small bag in case you need to move quickly. If local authorities issue evacuation instructions, tsunami alerts or movement restrictions, follow them immediately and notify family, your airline and your accommodation provider when it is safe to do so.

Before You Go to the Airport

Do not travel to the airport simply because your original itinerary still appears in your booking. Check your airline’s app, email alerts, airport notices and official aviation updates before leaving your accommodation. If the airport is closed or access roads are damaged, going there may leave you stuck in a crowded area with limited food, transport and information. If your flight is cancelled, ask the airline to confirm your options in writing, including refund eligibility, rerouting and the earliest available replacement flight.

Rebooking, Refunds and Compensation

Earthquakes are generally treated as extraordinary circumstances, so standard cash compensation may not apply in many jurisdictions. However, airlines may still have obligations to offer a refund or rerouting if they cancel your flight, depending on where the flight departs from, which airline operates it and the rules attached to your ticket. Travellers departing from the UK or EU, or flying with certain UK or EU carriers, should check passenger-rights rules carefully because duty-of-care obligations can still matter during major disruption. Keep screenshots of cancellation notices, boarding passes, receipts and chat transcripts, as these will help with both airline claims and travel insurance.

Insurance and Accommodation Practicalities

Travel insurance can be useful after a natural disaster, but cover depends heavily on the policy wording and when you bought the policy. Contact your insurer before booking expensive replacement flights or hotels, because some policies require pre-approval for major costs. Ask your hotel whether it has power, running water, safe access, working lifts and confirmed structural clearance before you arrive or extend your stay. If your original hotel is damaged or inaccessible, request written confirmation so you can support a claim for alternative accommodation.

Backup Routes and Regional Travel Options

If your route through Venezuela is disrupted, ask your airline about rerouting through another South American or Caribbean hub rather than buying a separate ticket immediately. Separate tickets can create problems if your first flight is delayed and you miss the new connection, because the second airline may treat you as a no-show. Travellers with urgent reasons to leave should compare airline rerouting, embassy advice, overland feasibility and the safety of local transport before choosing an alternative. Avoid relying on informal transport offers near disrupted airports, as emergency situations can increase the risk of scams and unsafe journeys.

Outlook for Caribbean Tourism

The wider tourism impact will depend on the extent of airport damage, road access, hotel safety checks and whether tsunami alerts or aftershocks continue. Some Caribbean destinations may remain open and operating, but travellers should not assume that regional connections are unaffected. Cruise lines, tour operators and airlines may adjust itineraries to avoid affected ports or airports while emergency operations continue. For now, the most practical approach is to delay non-essential movement into the affected area, monitor official updates and keep every booking flexible.