At least 32 people have lost their lives while more than 700 others were injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing widespread destruction and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
The country’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, confirmed the latest casualty figures on Thursday, saying rescue teams were still working to locate survivors in the worst affected communities.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck the same region of Venezuela on Wednesday. The powerful tremors caused several buildings to collapse in the capital, Caracas, while the country’s main international airport was shut down after suffering serious structural damage.
Addressing the nation, Rodriguez said authorities had confirmed 32 deaths and more than 700 injuries, adding that information from La Guaira, one of the hardest hit areas near the capital, was still being compiled.
She also disclosed that at least 20 aftershocks had followed the initial earthquakes, raising concerns over further damage and complicating rescue efforts.
Scenes of panic unfolded across Caracas as frightened residents rushed into the streets after the ground began shaking.
Odalis Escalona, a 54 year old bank employee, described the terrifying experience, saying the staircase gave way, walls cracked, and parts of the ceiling collapsed around them.
United States President Donald Trump also reacted to the disaster, describing the earthquakes as devastating and expressing America’s readiness to assist Venezuela with emergency response efforts.
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had directed government agencies to prepare for a rapid response to support the Venezuelan people.
Rescue operations continued throughout the night as emergency workers and volunteers searched through the wreckage of collapsed buildings. In Caracas’ Altamira district, a 22 story building was reduced to rubble, with anxious relatives calling out the names of missing loved ones while rescue teams worked through the debris.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the first earthquake struck about 21 kilometres west of the coastal town of Moron. Just 39 seconds later, a second and even stronger earthquake occurred approximately 45 kilometres away.
The agency explained that the first earthquake served as a foreshock before the larger main event.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, urged residents to leave damaged buildings as a precaution, noting that gas supplies had been disconnected in several areas to reduce the risk of explosions.
Rodriguez confirmed that Maiquetia International Airport, located near Caracas, had been temporarily closed after sustaining extensive damage. Images circulating on social media showed visible destruction across sections of the airport.
The earthquakes struck at relatively shallow depths of 22 kilometres and 10 kilometres, increasing the intensity of the shaking felt across the region.
Many residents recounted moments of fear as the earthquakes unfolded.
Heidi Romero, a 42 year old shop owner, said she was on the upper floor of a shopping centre when the building began shaking violently. She explained that people escaped through emergency stairways as panic spread throughout the complex.
Others remained outside for hours before deciding it was safe to return to their homes or workplaces.
Carmen Guedez, a 69 year old resident, said she was caring for her bedridden sister when the tremors intensified.
She recalled watching the windows shake before the entire building began moving. Unable to leave immediately, she remained inside with her sister and a neighbour until the danger subsided, while many other residents stayed outside on nearby streets.
Authorities identified Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda, and La Guaira as the states most severely affected by the disaster.
The earthquakes were also felt beyond Venezuela’s borders. In Colombia’s capital, Bogota, warning alarms sounded as residents evacuated buildings as a precaution.
Freddy Tovar, coordinator of Colombia’s National Seismological Network, said officials received more than 200 reports of tremors from different parts of the country. He warned that additional aftershocks remained possible and could also be felt across Colombia.
Despite concerns following the earthquakes, Colombia’s disaster management agency ruled out any tsunami threat. The United States National Tsunami Warning Center also confirmed there was no danger of a tsunami resulting from the seismic activity.
Venezuela has experienced several deadly earthquakes over the years. Among the most destructive were the 1997 earthquake in the country’s northeast, which claimed 73 lives, and the 1967 Caracas earthquake that killed 236 people.
Shortly after the Venezuelan earthquakes, Japan’s weather agency reported a separate 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the northern part of the country. Authorities confirmed that no casualties or major damage were recorded.
