Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has declared a state of emergency after the country was hit by two powerful earthquakes that collapsed dozens of buildings and killed at least 164 people. Officials fear the death toll could rise significantly.
Rodríguez said 971 people were injured and more casualties were expected. The two strong earthquakes struck within a minute of each other shortly after 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the first had a magnitude of 7.2 and the second a magnitude of 7.5, making them the most powerful earthquakes to hit the country since 1900.
Rodríguez reported about 30 aftershocks. In a televised broadcast on Wednesday night, she urged people to leave damaged buildings. “We ask the population to remain calm and united,” she said.
The quakes were felt across much of the country, but the worst damage appears to have occurred in and around the capital, Caracas. Social media videos showed scenes of panic as passengers ran through the corridors of Simón Bolívar International Airport, trying to take cover from falling debris.
Rodríguez said the airport had been closed after suffering “severe damage” and announced that the metro and train systems had been shut down. “We send our immediate condolences to those who have lost relatives,” the acting president said.
The USGS reported that Venezuela was hit by a magnitude 7.2 “foreshock,” followed 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 “mainshock.” The epicenter was west of the town of Morón, on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, about 100 miles (170 km) west of Caracas. The earthquake had a depth of 8 miles (13 km).
“High casualties and extensive damage are probable, and the disaster is likely widespread,” the USGS said.
According to Reuters, three people were killed in the Baruta district of Caracas after two buildings collapsed, as reported by the district mayor. The mayor of Chacao district in Caracas said one person had died and four buildings had collapsed. Twenty-two people were taken to hospital.
Donald Trump said the US was ready, willing, and able to help with 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 said.
In an early morning post on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”
Spain said it was ready to send 54 army rescuers to Venezuela, while France said it had 85 rescue workers available for deployment.
Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, told state broadcaster VTV: “A seismic event that everything suggests was considerably above 7 points has taken place. There are several complicated areas … very alarming areas from a visual standpoint, with buildings and homes that have collapsed.”
“Normally, this kind of event is followed by aftershocks, which could also bring down some structures that were damaged by the main event.”
A Guardian reporter saw at least three buildings that had collapsed in Altamira, an upscale area of Caracas that is home to many foreign embassies.
Some people were reportedly trapped under the rubble. Outside one building, a person was seen crying and calling out for his grandmother, whom he feared was inside. Nearby, rescue workers and volunteers searched for survivors.Vargas/Getty Images
“It was horrible,” said Olky Barrero, a 56-year-old teacher, as she joined the search near a collapsed six-story building. “We hope to God there are as few victims as possible. We’re praying.”
“Where I was, it felt like the walls were going to fall on us—they were shaking back and forth, this way and that,” Barrero added, as two victims, at least one still alive, were pulled from the rubble.
José Morillo said several of his family members had been inside the building. “My brother, my son, and my nephews are all in there. I have faith. I believe in God a lot. I hope everyone is okay—but the uncertainty is torture,” the 61-year-old said as rescue workers searched through the wreckage.
Thick columns of dust could be seen rising from the city, while images showed residents fleeing badly damaged buildings with their belongings and pets.
Passengers at Maiquetía airport took cover from falling debris.
One of the hardest-hit areas appears to be La Guaira, a port city just north of Caracas. It’s home to Simón Bolívar airport, Venezuela’s main international hub, and is also close to some hillside communities that were attacked by US forces when Trump ordered the January 3 strike on the country this year to kidnap its president, Nicolás Maduro.
A large beachfront hotel in La Guaira, Eduard’s Hotel Boutique, was almost completely destroyed. Nearby in Catia La Mar, Venezuela’s naval academy and several tall residential buildings were severely damaged.
The US embassy in Caracas urged American citizens to avoid damaged areas, advising them not to enter damaged buildings and to find safe shelter.
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Emergency services work at the site of a collapsed building in Caracas. Photograph: Gaby Oráa/Reuters
In footage shot outside a building that had collapsed in San Bernardino, an area in northern Caracas, a man could be heard saying: “There are many injured people inside. It’s a disaster.”
In Baruta, civil defense workers carried people from shattered buildings on stretchers after a landslide triggered by the earthquake.
Baruta’s mayor, Darwin González, posted footage on social media of a woman being rescued from the rubble. “We call on people to stay calm and be considerate at this time,” he wrote.
The exiled opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado wrote on X: “My heart, my endless embrace, and my prayers are with every Venezuelan home in these hours of anguish. May strength, calm, and solidarity guide us through this difficult moment.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Venezuela declaring a state of emergency after two deadly earthquakes
1 What exactly happened in Venezuela
Two strong earthquakes hit the country causing deaths and damage In response the government declared a state of emergency
2 Why did the government declare a state of emergency
To speed up rescue efforts get money and supplies to the affected areas faster and temporarily change some rules to better handle the crisis
3 How strong were the earthquakes
The first was a magnitude 60 and the second was a magnitude 58 Both were strong enough to cause serious damage and loss of life
4 Where exactly did the earthquakes hit
They struck near the northeastern coast mainly affecting states like Sucre and Anzoátegui and were felt as far away as Caracas
5 How many people died or were injured
Reports say at least 10 people died and dozens were injured though numbers may change as rescuers search through rubble
6 What does a state of emergency actually mean for regular people
It gives the government extra powers to control resources evacuate areas and bypass normal approval processes for aid It may also mean curfews or travel restrictions in the worsthit zones
7 Will this affect flights in or out of Venezuela
Yes some airports near the epicenter were temporarily closed for inspections International flights to Caracas are mostly operating but delays are possible
8 Is it safe to travel to Venezuela right now
Travel is not recommended to the affected regions due to ongoing aftershocks and unstable buildings If you must go check with your embassy and avoid damaged areas
9 How is the government helping people
They are sending military and rescue teams setting up temporary shelters and distributing food water and medical supplies They also asked for international help
10 What should I do if I have family in the affected area
Try to contact them by phone or social media If lines are down contact the Venezuelan Red Cross or the local civil protection agency for information
11 Are more earthquakes expected
Aftershocks are very likely in the coming days or weeks Authorities are monitoring seismic activity closely
12 How long will the state of emergency last
It is initially declared for 30 days but
