CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela has been plunged into mourning after two devastating earthquakes struck within seconds of each other near the nation’s capital, leaving at least 235 people dead and more than 4,300 injured, while rescue workers race against time to find survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The powerful tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, struck at approximately 6:04 p.m. local time on Wednesday, a national holiday when many families were gathered at home. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), both earthquakes occurred at shallow depths, intensifying the level of destruction across several regions.
The first quake originated about 20.3 kilometers below the Earth’s surface, followed moments later by a stronger second earthquake at a depth of 10 kilometers. The shallow nature of the quakes amplified the ground shaking, causing widespread structural failures.
The worst devastation has been reported in Caracas and the nearby coastal city of La Guaira, where desperate cries for help could be heard from beneath the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings and hotels. Rescue teams, aided by heavy machinery, search dogs, and volunteers, continue working around the clock in hopes of locating survivors.
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Authorities say more than 250 buildings have either collapsed or suffered severe damage, with La Guaira among the hardest-hit communities. One verified video showed a ten-storey hotel reduced to a mountain of debris, while residents desperately searched for missing relatives.
“I’m in shock and confusion, and frustrated that I can’t help,” said medical student Juan Ortiz, who revealed that one close friend had been confirmed dead while another was believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. Around twenty people he knows remain unaccounted for.
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The destruction has also extended across several Venezuelan states, including Trujillo, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua, and Miranda. In Caracas’ Chacao municipality, Mayor Gustavo Duque confirmed that rescue workers had recovered multiple victims while successfully pulling dozens of survivors from collapsed structures.
“Our priority is to rescue as many people alive as possible,” Duque said in a video update, adding that specialists continue carefully clearing debris to reach those still trapped.
The disaster has crippled critical infrastructure. Venezuela’s main international airport in Maiquetía has been closed after suffering significant structural damage, with videos from inside the terminal showing ceilings collapsing and debris falling onto passenger areas.
Emergency officials have also recorded more than 30 aftershocks, forcing thousands of frightened residents to spend the night outdoors rather than risk returning to damaged buildings.
President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency as the government mobilized emergency responders and military personnel to support rescue operations. Officials warned that the death toll is expected to rise as many communities remain inaccessible and communication networks continue to suffer from power outages and internet disruptions.
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The international community has responded swiftly. The United States announced an emergency aid package worth $150 million, alongside the deployment of military aircraft, transport ships, and specialized urban search-and-rescue teams. Additional assistance has been pledged by the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, and Qatar.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance were being deployed immediately.
US President Donald Trump also expressed support for Venezuela, describing the earthquakes as “massive in scale” and pledging that the United States “stands ready, willing and able to help.”
Seismologists say the earthquakes were triggered by movement along the boundary where the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates meet. The second tremor is believed to be the strongest earthquake to strike Venezuela since 1900, while the capital’s most recent comparable disaster occurred in 1967, when approximately 200 people lost their lives.
Experts from the USGS have warned that the eventual death toll could be significantly higher. Based on preliminary assessments of the earthquake’s magnitude, depth, population density, and historical patterns, officials say casualties may continue to rise as rescue operations reach more affected areas.
As Venezuela confronts one of the deadliest natural disasters in its modern history, emergency crews continue the painstaking search for survivors, while thousands of displaced residents wait anxiously for news of missing loved ones.
The coming days are expected to be critical as aftershocks persist and international relief efforts intensify to assist communities devastated by the twin earthquakes.
Editor’s note: The casualty figures and damage assessments reflect the information available at the time of writing and may change as rescue operations continue and authorities release updated official reports.
