Venezuelan capital Caracas was struck by two powerful earthquakes within seconds of each other, causing widespread destruction, collapsing buildings, and triggering a major rescue operation.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.2, followed just 39 seconds later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor.
The quakes struck west of Caracas at approximately 6:04 p.m. local time on Wednesday and were felt across much of Venezuela as well as neighbouring Colombia.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced a nationwide state of emergency and expressed condolences to families affected by the disaster, although authorities have yet to release an official death toll.
Rescue teams continued searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings across Caracas overnight, with reports of people trapped beneath debris calling for help. Emergency workers have been deployed to some of the hardest-hit districts, including San Bernardino, Chacao and Los Palos Grandes.
Authorities on High Alert
The US Geological Survey warned that the disaster could result in high casualties and extensive damage, estimating a significant probability of thousands of fatalities due to the strength of the earthquakes and the concentration of population in affected areas.
Authorities have suspended metro and train services, cancelled classes for the remainder of the week, and closed Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía after parts of the facility suffered serious structural damage.
More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, according to reports citing the Venezuelan presidency. The northern coastal states of La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón are among the areas most affected.
Residents described scenes of panic as power outages, damaged roads and communication disruptions complicated emergency response efforts. Many spent the night outdoors amid fears of further aftershocks.
US President Donald Trump described the situation as a tragedy with a “devastating number of deaths,” although no official casualty figures have yet been confirmed by Venezuelan authorities.
Experts said the earthquakes occurred along the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. The USGS said the larger quake resulted from shallow strike-slip faulting and warned that additional strong aftershocks remain possible in the coming days.
Emergency services continue to assess the full scale of the destruction as rescue efforts intensify across the capital and surrounding regions.
