Shocking footage has emerged showing the devastating impact of two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening. Successive tremors—measuring 7.1 and 7.5 on the Richter scale—hit near the country’s northern coast, triggering widespread panic, massive building collapses, and hundreds of injuries. According to official reports, at least 164 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured in the twin quakes—initially reported as 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude—though updated figures are still emerging.
USGS Warns of Catastrophic Toll
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued a stark warning that the death toll could rise dramatically, estimating that final fatalities may range from 10,000 to as many as 100,000. The first quake struck at 6:04 p.m. local time, approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Montalbán and 167 kilometers west of Caracas, at a shallow depth of about 13 kilometers. Just one minute later, a second, even stronger tremor—7.5 magnitude—hit near the city of Morón, at a depth of roughly 10 kilometers.
Timing Amplified the Impact
The quakes occurred during a national holiday—the Battle of Carabobo Day—commemorating Venezuela’s decisive 1821 victory over Spanish colonial forces. Many citizens were at home when the ground shook, increasing exposure to collapsing structures. While Venezuela lies near several active geological faults, earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively rare for the country compared to other Latin American nations like Mexico and Chile, which sit directly on the seismically volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
Chaos in the Streets and Malls
Social media is flooded with harrowing videos capturing the moments of collapse: building façades crumbling onto busy streets, terrified residents sprinting for safety amid thick clouds of dust and debris. In one widely shared clip, an entire multi-story building’s front collapses in seconds. Another shows the top floor of a structure giving way and crashing onto the road below, while elsewhere, windows shatter violently as entire city blocks shake uncontrollably.
Audio from the footage reveals screams, desperate shouts between neighbors, and nonstop car alarms as bricks and concrete rain down. One video—filmed inside a shopping mall—shows shoppers fleeing in terror as ceiling panels crash to the floor.
Panic at Caracas International Airport
Chaos also unfolded at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas. Videos taken inside the terminal show passengers running in panic as sections of the ceiling collapse. Children can be heard crying, and staff scramble amid falling debris and flickering lights.