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 multiple reports of people trapped under rubble. As of now, no official casualty figures have been released.
Emergency Declared Amid Severe Damage
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency. She confirmed severe damage to Maiquetía International Airport—the main air gateway serving Caracas—leading to an immediate suspension of operations pending further assessment. Rodríguez extended condolences to families affected by the disaster but refrained from citing any confirmed numbers of fatalities or injuries.
USGS Warns of Catastrophic Toll
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the 7.5-magnitude quake could result in up to 10,000 deaths—and some projections suggest the toll may reach as high as 100,000. The agency warned the twin quakes pose a high risk of ‘extensive damage’ and ‘thousands of fatalities’.
Seismic Timeline and Epicenters
According to USGS data, the first tremor—a 7.2-magnitude ‘foreshock’—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 quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, about 45 kilometers from the first epicenter. Around 20 strong aftershocks followed.
On-the-Ground Reports from Caracas
AFP journalists in Caracas witnessed rescue teams mobilizing around collapsed structures. Emergency responders pulled survivors from debris onto stretchers and rushed them to ambulances. In the Altamira neighborhood, a 22-story residential building was completely destroyed. Witnesses described frantic efforts by volunteers climbing through rubble as darkness fell—some shouting names of missing loved ones, others urgently calling for flashlights.
Government Response Underway
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed building collapses in the capital and ordered an immediate halt to natural gas supply across affected zones to prevent secondary disasters. Schools and railway services have also been suspended nationwide, per the acting president’s directive.
Images circulating on social media show extensive devastation at Maiquetía Airport and other infrastructure, with users describing scenes as resembling those after a bombing. Rescue operations continue amid growing concerns over the scale of human loss and infrastructure failure.