At least 32 people have died and more than 700 others sustained injuries after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing widespread destruction and panic across several regions.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit the same area on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Several buildings collapsed in the capital, Caracas, while authorities shut down the country’s main international airport following extensive structural damage.
Emergency responders, volunteers, and residents searched through piles of rubble on Thursday in a desperate effort to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
The disaster prompted interim President Delcy Rodriguez to declare a nationwide state of emergency as rescue operations intensified.
Addressing the nation early Thursday, Rodriguez said, “At this time, we have received reports of 32 deaths” and “more than 700 injured.”
She added that officials were still awaiting information from La Guaira, one of the regions believed to have suffered the most severe damage.
Rodriguez also disclosed that at least 20 aftershocks had been recorded following the devastating earthquakes.
The tremors triggered scenes of panic in Caracas, forcing thousands of residents to flee buildings and gather in open spaces.
“The stairs came away, the whole wall cracked. Things fell from the ceiling. It was horrible,” said 54-year-old bank employee Odalis Escalona.
United States President Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the victims and pledged support for relief efforts.
“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,” Trump said.
“The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly,” he added.
In Caracas’ Altamira district, a 22-storey building was completely reduced to rubble, leaving families desperately searching for missing loved ones.
Witnesses reported hearing people call out relatives’ names as rescuers and volunteers climbed over debris in search of survivors.
“We need flashlights,” one volunteer shouted during the rescue operation.
According to the USGS, the first earthquake struck about 21 kilometres west of the coastal town of Moron at 2204 GMT.
Less than a minute later, a second and stronger earthquake measuring 7.5 magnitude occurred roughly 45 kilometres from the first epicentre.
“This earthquake was the second event in a doublet,” the USGS stated.
“This magnitude 7.5 mainshock was preceded by 39 seconds by a 7.2 foreshock,” the agency added.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged residents to leave damaged buildings while safety inspections continued.
“We have some damaged structures, and we don’t want any kind of accident involving gas to occur,” Cabello said.
Authorities suspended gas supplies to several buildings as a precaution against possible explosions.
Rodriguez confirmed that Maiquetia International Airport was closed after sustaining serious infrastructure damage.
Images circulating on social media showed damaged sections of the airport and disrupted operations.
The earthquakes occurred at depths of 22 kilometres and 10 kilometres respectively, increasing their impact on populated areas.
At a shopping centre in Caracas, frightened shoppers screamed and rushed toward exits as the buildings shook.
“It was unbelievable, I don’t even know how long it lasted,” said shopkeeper Heidi Romero.
“We went out through the emergency stairs; that’s how they got us out,” the 42-year-old added.
Many residents remained outdoors for hours before cautiously returning to their homes and workplaces.
Carmen Guedez, a 69-year-old administrator, said she was caring for her bedridden sister when the earthquake struck.
“It kept getting stronger,” she recalled.
“I started to see the windows begin to move and then everything shook.”
Guedez said she sought shelter with her sister and a neighbour as the tremors intensified.
“We couldn’t get out. The neighbors are still out on the street,” she said.
Authorities identified Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda and La Guaira states as the worst-affected regions.
The impact of the earthquakes was felt beyond Venezuela’s borders, including in neighbouring Colombia.
In the Colombian capital, Bogota, alarms sounded and some residents evacuated buildings as a safety measure.
Freddy Tovar, coordinator of Colombia’s National Seismological Network, said officials received more than 200 reports of tremors nationwide.
“The conditions of this seismic event mean that some aftershocks may occur, which could also be widely felt across Colombian territory,” he said.
Colombia’s disaster management agency ruled out the possibility of a tsunami following the earthquakes.
The United States National Tsunami Warning Center also assured residents that there was no tsunami threat.
“NO tsunami, NO danger from a recent earthquake,” the agency stated.
Venezuela has experienced several deadly earthquakes in the past.
The strongest recent quake occurred in the country’s northeast in 1997, killing 73 people.
Another major earthquake struck Caracas in 1967, claiming the lives of 236 people.
Shortly after the Venezuela disaster, a separate 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan.
Japanese authorities reported no casualties or significant property damage from that tremor.
