Venezuela twin earthquakes kill at least 32 people, injure 700

Powerful back-to-back earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening killed at least 32 people and injured more than 700, the nation's acting president said, as communities across the South American country grappled with widespread destruction.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez warned that the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched collapsed buildings and emergency crews reached devastated areas following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which struck shortly after 6pm local time.

Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in a televised address late on Wednesday, saying the quakes had caused significant damage across several states. The casualty figures released early on Thursday did not include the state of La Guaira, which she described as a “disaster zone” and the area hardest hit.

“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of Caracas, and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.

The earthquakes, among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, rattled much of the region. Buildings were evacuated across several cities, while tremors were felt as far away as Brazil’s Amazon region, approximately 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) from the Venezuelan capital.

Rodríguez said the earthquakes damaged and forced the closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas, the country’s main gateway. Metro services and natural gas supplies in the capital were also suspended. She urged citizens to report damage through a government mobile application.

Schools will remain closed for several days, Rodríguez said, while the Ministry of Education announced that some school buildings would be converted into emergency shelters and donation centres.

“We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez said, calling on healthcare professionals to report to hospitals to assist the injured. “We urge unity.”

Country struck by twin major earthquakes

The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported the first earthquake as magnitude 7.1 before revising it to 7.2. The epicentre was located west of Morón on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, around 168 kilometres (104 miles) west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometres (13.6 miles).

Just one minute later, the USGS recorded an even stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake. The second tremor struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles), with its epicentre 16 kilometres (10 miles) south-west of Morón.

In the coastal state of Falcón, Governor Víctor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalised and 15 remained trapped in the hours following the disaster.

International assistance offered

Offers of assistance poured in from governments including the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay.

Jeremy P. Lewin, the US undersecretary of state for foreign assistance, said the State Department had mobilised a disaster response team and task force to coordinate aid, including search-and-rescue teams, medical supplies and humanitarian assistance, in co-operation with Venezuela’s interim government.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, long at odds with Venezuela’s leadership, said on X that his government had offered support.

“We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” Bukele wrote.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said he had ordered the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to assist relief efforts.

“Ecuador will respond with the speed and commitment this moment demands because, despite our enormous differences, humanity must always guide the actions of a leader,” Noboa wrote.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who declared a state of emergency in his own country less than a week ago following weeks of anti-government protests, said Bolivia stood ready to provide any assistance required.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration also expressed solidarity and said no Brazilian citizens had been reported injured.

‘We all had to leave our homes’

As the earthquakes struck, residents fled swaying buildings in Caracas. Many emerged visibly shaken to find collapsed walls exposing furniture and interiors to the street. Clouds of dust rose above two normally bustling neighbourhoods lined with restaurants and businesses.

People remained outdoors for hours, some sitting on the ground clutching pets as dust settled around them. Collapsed buildings, fallen electricity poles and debris blocked roads, while parts of the capital lost power and mobile phone service.

“It started gently and then gradually became stronger, and in the end we all had to leave our homes, go outside and gather together,” said Caracas resident Héctor Ricci.

Another resident, Roberto Gamas, described the shaking as extraordinary.

“The building really swayed from side to side. It was unreal. The force was incredibly strong,” he said.

The loss of mobile phone signals in parts of the country heightened anxiety among families, particularly those separated by Venezuela’s prolonged political and economic crisis, which has driven more than 7.7 million people abroad.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado, speaking from exile after leaving Venezuela in December, offered prayers and words of encouragement on X.

“May strength, serenity and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time,” she wrote.

Impact felt across Venezuela

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the earthquakes were felt across several states and urged motorists to give priority to ambulances and emergency vehicles.

He confirmed reports of collapsed homes and buildings in Caracas’s Altamira district and said authorities believed a number of people had been injured.

“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are following established protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts for those who need them most,” Cabello said on state television.

He urged residents to remain outdoors where possible, warning that aftershocks could cause further structural damage.

“Be very careful with children and the elderly. Check on your neighbours and ensure no one has been harmed,” he said.

Tremors felt across the region

Buildings were evacuated in the Brazilian Amazon cities of Manaus, Belém and Macapá, according to reports from TV Globo.

The earthquakes were also felt across Colombia’s Caribbean coast and north-eastern regions, although there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center briefly issued tsunami alerts following the earthquakes before later withdrawing them.

Strong earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Venezuela. Although the country lies near several fault lines, its position along the boundary of the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates makes major seismic events less frequent than in other parts of Latin America.

Earthquakes occur far more regularly along the Pacific coast, particularly in countries such as Mexico and Chile, which sit on the seismically active Ring of Fire. According to the USGS, the Ring of Fire is responsible for roughly 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes.