Venezuela was struck by a pair of massive earthquakes last night, resulting in widespread destruction, chaos, and a significant loss of life. Harrowing footage captured the terrifying moments as residents fled swaying apartment buildings and faced apocalyptic scenes on the streets.
The back-to-back tremors, measuring 7.1 and 7.5 magnitude, struck near the coast. The US Geological Survey initially warned that "high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread," with an estimated death toll between 10,000 and 100,000. As of Thursday, Venezuelan authorities reported at least 164 fatalities and hundreds more injured.
Video footage from the capital depicted scenes of panic as building facades collapsed onto busy streets, sending clouds of dust and debris into the air. Citizens were heard screaming in terror and running for their lives, with bystanders helping to catch those who fell. Car alarms blared as bricks and mortar rained down.
Simón Bolívar International Airport was also severely impacted. Footage from inside the terminal showed terrified passengers, including children, scrambling for safety as internal structures collapsed and lights flickered. Large sections of the ceiling fell, filling the air with dust from broken construction materials.
Rescuers and local residents immediately began searching for survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings. In the city of La Guaira, entire homes were upended, and one building had almost completely collapsed, with a car partially buried beneath the debris.
A dramatic scene unfolded at a baseball stadium, where spectators watched in horror as a distant building collapsed, sending a massive plume of dust into the sky. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for possible tsunami waves along the coasts of Venezuela, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Aruba, although the epicenters were on land.
The first tremor occurred at 6:04 p.m. Venezuela time, approximately 17 miles northwest of Montalbán, with a depth of 8 miles. The second, more powerful earthquake, a 7.5 magnitude tremor, struck just one minute later with its epicenter 10 miles southwest of Morón and a depth of 6 miles.
These earthquakes occurred while many Venezuelans were observing Battle of Carabobo Day, a public holiday. Although Venezuela is situated near fault lines, its location between the South American and Caribbean plates makes significant earthquakes less common compared to regions like the Pacific Ring of Fire, home to countries such as Mexico and Chile.