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At least 164 people were killed and nearly 1,000 others injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said, as emergency crews continued searching collapsed buildings and authorities expanded rescue operations across the hardest-hit areas.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured the first earthquake at magnitude 7.5 near Yumare in Yaracuy state at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). A second, magnitude 7.2 quake followed shortly afterward near San Felipe in the country's northwest. The agency later revised its initial magnitude estimate after further analysis.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency, saying the measure was intended to speed up rescue efforts following the back-to-back earthquakes.
She later announced that the disaster had claimed at least 32 lives and left more than 700 people injured, adding that officials were still gathering information from La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas. Rodriguez also reported that around 20 aftershocks had followed the main earthquakes.
Venezuelan media reported collapsed and damaged buildings in several areas, while communication outages in some cities slowed down efforts to assess the full scale of the damage and possible casualties.
In Chacao municipality, where two residential buildings collapsed, Mayor Gustavo Duque Saez said 21 people had been rescued alive as emergency crews continued to search for survivors.
Venezuelan media also reported unconfirmed fatalities, but authorities had not released an official death toll.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the earthquakes were felt across several states, including Caracas, and urged residents to stay outside buildings because of the risk of aftershocks.
Rodriguez said Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela’s main international gateway serving Caracas, had been closed indefinitely because of severe damage to terminals and runways.
Civil defense teams were deployed to the areas closest to the epicenter to assess infrastructure damage, while emergency crews searched through rubble for people who may be trapped or injured.
Videos shared on social media showed dust rising over commercial areas of Caracas as buildings cracked and concrete facades fell away.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said houses and buildings had collapsed after the severe shaking, while emergency agencies, civil protection teams, firefighters, police and volunteers had been fully deployed.
Cabello described the situation in Caracas’ Altamira neighborhood as especially alarming, saying some multi-story residential buildings had suffered partial collapses.
“We recommend that you remain on the streets, watch over children and the elderly, and try to stay calm as rescue protocols are activated,” he said.
Rodriguez thanked the United Nations, multilateral organizations, and several governments for their solidarity and offers of humanitarian assistance.
She said Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Türkiye, Jordan, Barbados, Curacao, and the United Kingdom had offered support, including search-and-rescue assistance.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that the United States stood "ready, willing, and able to help" Venezuela after the South American nation was hit by two powerful earthquakes.
"The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"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. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!!"
The United States also pledged support, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau saying Washington was in contact with authorities and mobilizing assistance.
“The US stands with the Venezuelan people in the aftermath of this evening's devastating earthquakes. We're in touch with the authorities and mobilizing assistance. May God bless our Venezuelan friends at this difficult moment,” Landau said on X.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he had instructed Brazil’s Foreign Ministry to assess the situation and identify possible assistance measures.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat warning for Venezuela’s immediate coast, as well as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
A tsunami advisory was also activated for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as authorities monitored coastal tide gauges for unusual wave activity.
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