Two powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in and around the capital, Caracas, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700 others.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near San Felipe, approximately 284 km west of Caracas, at 22:04 GMT, followed almost immediately by a magnitude 7.5 quake near Yumare, about 293 km west of the capital, according to the US Geological Survey. The stronger of the two is the largest earthquake to strike Venezuela since 1900.
Acting President Delcy RodrÃguez, addressing the nation on state television, described the state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, as a “true tragedy” and a “disaster zone,” noting that casualty figures did not yet include possible deaths from that region.
The USGS, using predictive modelling, warned the death toll would most likely run into the thousands, with a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.
RodrÃguez declared a state of emergency, and Simón BolÃvar International Airport in Caracas was closed due to structural damage. Hospitals were placed on high alert, with staff asked to double up on night shifts to treat the injured.
The United States pledged to deploy search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance, with President Donald Trump ordering all government agencies to prepare for rapid response. China, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico also offered aid.
