Two powerful earthquakes—measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale—struck Venezuela on Wednesday, triggering widespread destruction across the country. Buildings collapsed in Caracas and surrounding areas, with numerous reports of people trapped under rubble. As of now, no official casualty figures have been released, though rescue efforts are underway amid growing fears for thousands of lives.
State of Emergency Declared
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency, announcing that Simón Bolívar International Airport—the main airport serving Caracas—suffered severe damage and its operations have been suspended indefinitely. Rodríguez expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones but refrained from citing specific numbers of fatalities or injuries.
USGS Warns of Catastrophic Toll
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated on Wednesday that the 7.5-magnitude quake could result in up to 10,000 deaths—and warned the figure may be significantly higher. The agency classified the event as a rare ‘double earthquake’: the first shock—a 7.2-magnitude tremor—occurred at 6:04 p.m. local time (01:04 a.m. EEST) at a depth of 21.9 kilometers, roughly 200 kilometers west of Caracas. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude aftershock struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, about 45 kilometers from the first epicenter. Around 20 strong aftershocks followed.
Widespread Damage and Response
Authorities have suspended school classes and railway services nationwide. In Caracas, AFP journalists witnessed rescue teams scrambling around collapsed buildings, pulling survivors from debris onto stretchers and rushing them to ambulances. One AFP reporter observed a 22-story apartment complex fully destroyed in the Altamira neighborhood; residents shouted names into the ruins as volunteers climbed over rubble in fading light. ‘We need flashlights!’ one cried as darkness fell.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed building collapses in the capital and ordered an immediate shutdown of natural gas supply to affected areas. Images circulating online—including footage from Maiquetía Airport—show extensive structural damage, prompting comparisons to war-zone devastation.