At least 32 people were killed and around 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, causing widespread damage in and around the capital, Caracas, authorities said.
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According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 kilometres west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake hit the same region.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said the death toll was expected to rise, noting that the initial figures did not include casualties from La Guaira state, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster.
Rescue Efforts Intensify
Rodriguez said emergency crews were working through the night to search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts,” she said in a televised address shortly before 1 a.m. local time on Thursday.
She described the earthquakes as a national tragedy and expressed condolences to families who had lost loved ones. Rodriguez added that international rescue teams were expected to arrive in the coming hours to support local efforts.
The USGS said predictive modelling suggested the final death toll could reach into the thousands, with a significant possibility that fatalities could exceed 10,000.
Buildings Collapse Across Caracas
Several districts of Caracas reported deaths and major structural damage.
Authorities said three people were killed in the Baruta district after two buildings collapsed. In nearby Chacao, Mayor Gustavo Duque said one person died and four buildings were completely destroyed.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said emergency services had been deployed across affected areas as authorities responded to reports of collapsed homes and damaged buildings.
Television footage showed rescue workers searching through rubble as relatives gathered nearby seeking information about missing family members.
Residents described scenes of panic as the earthquakes struck during a public holiday when many people were at home.
“When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie,” said Maria Alejandra, a resident living near one of the collapsed buildings.
Fear and Chaos
Across Caracas, residents rushed into the streets as buildings shook violently.
“There was a very loud crash,” said Coro Martinez, a resident of eastern Caracas. “Things fell in the house. I've never experienced anything like it.”
Astrid Ramirez, who lives in western Caracas, said screams could be heard throughout her apartment building as people hurried down stairwells to escape.
Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner, said the quake felt worse than the devastating earthquake that struck Caracas in 1967.
Another resident said she received an earthquake warning on her phone moments before the shaking intensified dramatically.
International Support Offered
A tsunami warning issued after the earthquakes was later cancelled once the threat had passed.
US President Donald Trump said Washington was prepared to assist Venezuela following the disaster. The US State Department said it was coordinating with Venezuelan authorities and mobilising aid.
Leaders from several countries, including El Salvador, Brazil and the Dominican Republic, also offered support and condolences.
Rodriguez said the foreign ministry had been instructed to coordinate incoming assistance from abroad.
Airport Closed, Classes Suspended
Authorities closed Venezuela's largest airport in Maiquetia after it sustained damage during the earthquakes.
Schools and universities were ordered to remain closed for the rest of the week as officials assessed the scale of destruction.
Hospital staff in Caracas were asked to remain on duty for extended shifts to help cope with the influx of injured patients.
Despite the widespread damage, Venezuela's oil infrastructure did not appear to have been affected immediately by the tremors.
Venezuela sits in a seismically active region where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate. The country has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past, including an 1812 disaster that is estimated to have killed around 30,000 people.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 June 2026