Following the recent Venezuela earthquake, amateur radio operators around the world may hear requests to keep certain frequencies clear for emergency traffic. During major disasters, ham radio often becomes a critical backup communications system when normal infrastructure is damaged or overloaded. In this article, I’ll explain what “frequency clearance” means, why these requests are issued, which amateur radio bands are most likely to carry emergency traffic, and how listeners and operators can support relief efforts without interfering with life-saving communications.
The following news post was issued by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on June 25, 2026:
“Following the fatal earthquake in Venezuela on Wednesday at 5:04 PM local time (10:04 PM UTC), local Radio Amateurs have asked that that all Amateur Radio colleagues in the Americas and the rest of the world protect the following frequency used by Venezuelan Amateur Radio operators:
40 m: 7135 kHz
Domingo L. Hernández Lima, YV5IZE, Director of the Venezuelan Radio Club’s National Emergency Network reports that a large part of the capital is without electricity and communication systems are operating on battery power. They were already activating their emergency shortwave (HF) frequency and also using digital frequencies and communication modes.
At the same time, the emergency communications coordinators of Amateur Radio operators from Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and other countries in the region, as well as members of the Board of Directors of the International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 (IARU R2), remain on standby to provide any assistance that may be needed.
Information received from Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC, Emergency Communications Coordinator, IARU R2.
Alan Griffin
RAC MarCom Director Copyright © 2026 Radio Amateurs of Canada, All rights reserved.
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