Hundreds of people have died and thousands are missing following two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela, reducing buildings to rubble and prompting a U.S. offer of assistance.
The tremors, measured at magnitudes 7.1 and 7.5 by the U.S. Geological Survey, hit near the coast on Wednesday evening. Horrifying aerial images reveal the widespread destruction, showing flattened structures and debris-filled streets. Simón Bolívar International Airport sustained damage, leading to its closure and flight cancellations.
As of Thursday morning, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez reported the death toll had risen to 164, with at least 700 people injured. However, the U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated that between 10,000 and 100,000 people could be dead, and Rodríguez warned that the toll was expected to climb as rescuers search collapsed buildings and emergency crews reach devastated areas. The earthquakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in over a century, a region not typically prone to such seismic activity.
In the capital, Caracas, terrified residents fled swaying apartment blocks as walls collapsed and dust clouds rose. Footage showed emergency workers clambering through the ruins of collapsed buildings, with homes and high-rise structures reduced to piles of concrete and rebar. Entire exterior walls were ripped away from some buildings, exposing interiors.
Governor Víctor Clark of the coastal state of Falcon reported that 32 people had been hospitalized and 15 remained trapped more than four hours after the earthquake. In Caracas, neighborhoods like Altamira experienced significant damage with collapsed homes and buildings. Roads were blocked by debris and toppled electric poles, and parts of the capital lost power and cellphone signals, exacerbating distress for families, particularly those with relatives abroad.
President Donald Trump announced that the United States was preparing to help Venezuela, stating, "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." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the State Department was "immediately deploying" search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance.
The quakes occurred on Battle of Carabobo Day, a public holiday. While the epicenter was inland, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of possible tsunami waves along the coasts of Venezuela, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Aruba, though later reports indicated no tsunami danger.
The first tremor occurred at 6:04 p.m. local time about 17 miles northwest of Montalbán, Venezuela, followed just one minute later by a second powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5. The tremors were felt as far away as Bogotá, Colombia, where alarms sounded and some residents evacuated buildings as a precaution.
Interim President Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, canceling subway and natural gas services in Caracas and urging citizens to report damage via a government app. She also advised health care professionals to report to hospitals and asked the population to remain calm and united. School classes were canceled for several days, with some school buildings designated as shelters and donation centers.
Offers of aid also came from Chile and El Salvador, with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa expressing solidarity and committing humanitarian assistance. Buildings in parts of Brazil and Colombia were also affected, though without reports of significant damage or injuries.