At least 32 people have lost their lives and over 700 others sustained injuries after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing widespread destruction and panic across several regions of the country.
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‎The twin tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, hit on Wednesday and triggered the collapse of buildings, damaged critical infrastructure, and forced thousands of residents to flee into the streets for safety.
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‎Speaking in a national address on Thursday, Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, confirmed the casualty figures and declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster. She noted that rescue teams were still assessing the full extent of the damage, particularly in La Guaira State, one of the worst-hit areas.
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‎Authorities reported that more than 20 aftershocks followed the initial earthquakes, complicating rescue operations and increasing fears among residents.
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‎In Caracas, the capital city, emergency workers and volunteers searched through piles of debris for survivors. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as buildings shook violently and parts of structures crumbled.
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‎A 22-storey building in the Altamira district reportedly collapsed completely, prompting frantic rescue efforts. Relatives of missing persons gathered near the rubble while emergency responders searched for survivors.
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‎The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the first quake struck near the coastal town of Moron, with a second, stronger tremor occurring less than a minute later. According to the agency, the 7.2-magnitude quake acted as a foreshock before the more powerful 7.5-magnitude event.
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‎The earthquakes also caused significant damage to Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, forcing authorities to suspend operations.
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‎Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello ordered residents to evacuate vulnerable buildings and announced precautionary gas supply shutdowns in some areas to prevent explosions and additional hazards.
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‎The disaster drew international reactions, with U.S. President Donald Trump offering assistance and stating that American agencies had been instructed to prepare emergency support for Venezuela.
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‎The tremors were felt beyond Venezuela’s borders, including in neighbouring Colombia, where emergency authorities received more than 200 reports from residents who experienced the shaking.
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‎Despite concerns, both Colombian authorities and the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat following the earthquakes.
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‎The states of La Guaira, Miranda, Carabobo, and Trujillo were among the areas most severely affected, while rescue and recovery operations continued as officials searched for additional victims trapped beneath collapsed structures.