At least 32 people have died and more than 700 others have been injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other, causing widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and forcing thousands of residents onto the streets.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency after the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck near the Venezuelan capital.
“At this time, we have received reports of 32 deaths,” Rodriguez said in a televised address. “More than 700 people have been injured.”
She added that authorities had yet to receive complete information from La Guaira, one of the areas closest to the epicentre and among the hardest-hit regions.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the first earthquake struck 21 kilometres west of the coastal town of Moron at 2204 GMT. Less than a minute later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit around 45 kilometres away.
USGS described the event as an earthquake “doublet”, saying the second quake was preceded by a 7.2-magnitude foreshock just 39 seconds earlier.
Buildings Collapse in Caracas
The tremors caused panic across Caracas, where residents rushed from homes, offices and shopping centres as buildings shook violently.
A 22-storey residential building in the Altamira district collapsed completely, with emergency workers and volunteers searching through the rubble for survivors.
“We need flashlights,” one volunteer shouted as rescue efforts continued.
The country’s main airport, Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, was closed after suffering what Rodriguez described as “serious damage” to its infrastructure.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said gas supplies had been shut off in several damaged buildings to prevent explosions.
“We have some damaged structures, and we don’t want any kind of accident involving gas to occur,” he said.
Authorities said more than 20 aftershocks had been recorded in the hours following the disaster.
Residents Describe Scenes of Panic
Witnesses described terrifying moments as buildings shook and debris fell.
“The stairs came away, the whole wall cracked. Things fell from the ceiling. It was horrible,” said Odalis Escalona, a 54-year-old bank employee.
Shopkeeper Heidi Romero said she was on the upper floor of a shopping centre when the quake struck.
“It was unbelievable, I don’t even know how long it lasted,” she said. “We went out through the emergency stairs; that’s how they got us out.”
Carmen Guedez, who was caring for her bedridden sister at home, said the shaking intensified rapidly.
“It kept getting stronger,” she said. “I started to see the windows begin to move and then everything shook.”
She added: “We huddled together. We couldn’t get out. The neighbours are still out on the street.”
Officials identified the states of Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda and La Guaira as the areas most severely affected.
International Offers of Assistance
US President Donald Trump offered assistance to Venezuela following the disaster.
“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help. I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly.”
The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Colombia, including the capital Bogota, where some buildings were evacuated.
Freddy Tovar, coordinator of Colombia’s National Seismological Network, said authorities had received more than 200 reports of tremors.
“The conditions of this seismic event mean that some aftershocks may occur, which could also be widely felt across Colombian territory,” he said.
Colombian emergency officials and the US National Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat following the earthquakes.
The twin earthquakes rank among the deadliest to strike Venezuela in recent decades. The country’s deadliest recent earthquake occurred in Caracas in 1967, when 236 people were killed.
