Powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 32 people and injuring at least 700, according to the nation's acting president. The toll is expected to rise as rescuers search collapsed buildings and emergency crews reach devastated areas.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, noting that the quakes caused significant damage in several states. The state of La Guaira, located about 30 kilometers north of Caracas, was described as a "disaster zone" and was the hardest-hit area, with dozens of buildings collapsed. Intensive rescue operations are underway there.
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century. They were felt as far as Brazil's Amazon, approximately 1,700 kilometers from Caracas. The main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas, sustained damage and was closed. Subway and natural gas services in Caracas were also canceled.
School classes have been canceled for several days, with some school buildings designated as shelters and donation centers. Rodríguez urged residents to remain calm and asked healthcare professionals to report to hospitals to assist the injured. She emphasized the need for unity.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 with an epicenter west of Morón on the Caribbean coast. A second, larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake followed a minute later, with an epicenter southwest of Morón.
In the coastal state of Falcon, Governor Víctor Clark stated that 32 people were hospitalized and 15 were trapped in the hours following the earthquake.
Offers of assistance have come from numerous countries, including the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States is deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance. The State Department has mobilized a disaster assistance team and task force to coordinate aid in conjunction with the interim Venezuelan government. Qatar, Mexico, and El Salvador have also sent or are expected to send rescuers.
Television broadcasts showed images of rescue workers using power tools on collapsed structures. During the quakes, residents evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas. Dust columns were visible in neighborhoods where collapsed walls exposed building interiors. Power and cellphone service were lost in parts of the capital.
Residents described the experience, with one noting the gradual intensification of the shaking, forcing people to evacuate their homes. Another described the building he was in shaking intensely from side to side.
The lack of cellphone signal exacerbated the distress for many families, particularly for those among the millions who have left Venezuela during its prolonged crisis.
Strong earthquakes are considered unusual in Venezuela, as the country sits near multiple fault lines but is positioned between the South American and Caribbean plates, making major seismic activity less common than in other parts of Latin America.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued and then quickly lifted several tsunami alerts in the wake of the earthquakes.