Back-to-back powerful earthquakes have struck Venezuela, collapsing buildings, killing dozens and sending terrified residents fleeing into the streets.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the first quake measured 7.1 in magnitude, followed shortly after by a stronger 7.5 tremor. The epicentre was located about 27 kilometres west of the coastal town of Morón at a depth of roughly 13 kilometres.
The USGS warned in the immediate aftermath that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread”, initially estimating the potential death toll could reach between 10,000 and 100,000.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez later confirmed at least 32 people had been killed and about 700 injured. She also declared a state of emergency, with rescuers from other countries expected to arrive to assist recovery efforts.
“We have buildings, homes and houses which have collapsed and we are taking care of things with everything we have available in terms of security, civil assistance,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television. “The fire department, police all have been activated.”
Caracas was among the hardest hit, with residents evacuating homes and offices as the tremors shook the capital. Authorities reported collapsed buildings in several districts, including Altamira, while emergency crews rushed to affected areas.
More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake, leaving many residents too afraid to return home.
Many Venezuelans were indoors when the earthquake struck, marking a public holiday commemorating the country’s 1821 independence victory from Spain.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and destruction.
“The stairs came away, the whole wall cracked. Things fell from the ceiling. It was horrible,” bank employee Odalis Escalona said.
“We waited for it to pass and then ran down the escalator,” Zenia Gonzalez added. “We had to wait because it was shaking too much. It lasted a long time.”
Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner in Caracas, said police helped her evacuate her building.
“This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said.
In Valencia, west of Caracas, one resident told Reuters: “Several walls in my building broke open or cracks formed. As soon as it stopped (shaking) my husband and I evacuated.”
Videos shared online showed passengers running for cover inside Simón Bolívar International Airport as the terminal shook and power flickered. Authorities later closed the airport as a precaution.
Power outages and internet disruptions were reported across parts of the country, compounding the chaos and making it difficult for families to contact loved ones.
The US Tsunami Warning System initially issued alerts for Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands, as well as nearby Caribbean islands including Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, warning of potentially hazardous waves.
International support has begun to flow, with the United States pledging to deploy a disaster response team, while Ecuador and El Salvador also offered humanitarian aid.
US President Donald Trump said early reports from Venezuela were “not good” and described a “devastating number of deaths”, adding the US was ready to assist.
Venezuela’s exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado also shared a message of solidarity.
“My heart, my infinite embrace, and my prayers are with every Venezuelan home in these hours of anguish,” she wrote on X. “May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time.”
Despite the widespread destruction, Venezuela’s key oil infrastructure does not appear to have been significantly affected, though officials warned prolonged power outages could impact production.
Emergency crews continue search and rescue operations as the full scale of the disaster becomes clearer.
with AP and Reuters
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