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| A damaged building in the Los Palos Grandes district after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Venezuela and parts of the Caribbean in Caracas, Venezuela./Photo/ Garvas/Getty |
Powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, toppling buildings in Caracas, trapping people beneath rubble and prompting scientists to warn that the disaster could result in significant casualties and widespread destruction across the country.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor. The twin quakes sent shockwaves across much of northern Venezuela and triggered immediate rescue efforts in multiple cities.
The USGS issued an early assessment warning that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable” and said the disaster was likely to affect a broad area. Initial estimates suggested the death toll could eventually range between 10,000 and 100,000 people, although officials stressed that it was far too early to determine the full human impact.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced plans to declare a national state of emergency and seek assistance from international organizations to support recovery and humanitarian operations.
“We extend our condolences to those who have unfortunately suffered the loss of a family member,” Rodriguez said during a televised address to the nation. She did not provide an official national count of deaths or injuries.Reports from across the country described collapsed residential buildings, damaged infrastructure and frantic rescue operations as emergency crews searched for survivors.
“We have buildings, homes and houses which have collapsed and we are taking care of things with everything we have available in terms of security and civil assistance,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television.
Video footage broadcast by local media showed emergency personnel climbing through the ruins of a collapsed structure in Caracas after nightfall while anxious relatives gathered nearby seeking information about missing family members.
In the Caracas municipality of Chacao, Mayor Gustavo Duque said multiple buildings suffered structural failures. Rescue teams extracted at least 18 survivors from one collapsed building and continued searching for additional victims.
“We’re going to do everything we can to rescue the most people possible,” Duque said, urging residents to remain in open public spaces because of the risk of powerful aftershocks.
The coastal state of Falcon also reported significant impacts. Governor Victor Clark said at least 22 people were injured and authorities were searching for 15 missing adults.
The earthquakes struck during a national holiday commemorating a key military victory in Venezuela’s independence struggle, meaning many residents were at home when the shaking began.
“As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicist in western Caracas. “Everyone was running down the stairs.” Across the capital, frightened residents evacuated apartment buildings and office towers as tremors rattled windows and sent household items crashing to the floor.
“There was a very loud crash. Things fell in the house, jugs inside the refrigerator. I’ve never experienced anything like it,” said Coro Martinez, 56, who lives in eastern Caracas.Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner living in southern Caracas, said police officers helped her evacuate her home after the earthquake.
“This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said, referring to a deadly earthquake that struck Venezuela’s capital nearly six decades ago.
Another Caracas resident, a 41-year-old office worker who declined to be identified, said she received an earthquake warning on her mobile phone moments before the strongest shaking began.
“As I picked it up and started listening to what it was saying, I first felt light shaking,” she said. “Then, in less than two seconds, everything started moving.”
The disaster represents one of the most significant crises faced by Rodriguez since she assumed leadership following the U.S.-backed removal of former President Nicolas Maduro in January. Her administration has sought closer international cooperation, particularly in the oil, mining and energy sectors.
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas said it was closely monitoring developments and urged American citizens in Venezuela to seek secure shelter and avoid damaged structures.
Hospitals quickly activated emergency protocols. At Caracas’ Hospital de Clinicas, medical staff were instructed to remain on extended shifts to cope with an expected influx of injured patients, according to a hospital worker.
Transportation infrastructure also suffered damage. Rodriguez confirmed that Venezuela’s largest airport, located in Maiquetia north of Caracas, was temporarily closed while engineers assessed structural conditions and runway safety. Authorities suspended classes nationwide for the remainder of the week as emergency responders and government agencies worked to evaluate damage and coordinate relief efforts.
Despite the extensive destruction reported in urban areas, Venezuela’s critical oil infrastructure appeared to escape major immediate damage. Most locations reporting severe impacts are located away from the country’s primary oil-producing regions.
Civil protection officials in Maracaibo, near the strategically important Lake Maracaibo energy hub, reported no injuries and no immediate signs of significant disruption to petroleum facilities.
Energy companies operating in Venezuela began accounting for personnel and inspecting facilities shortly after the earthquakes. Industry sources said prolonged electrical outages could affect crude production if power supplies are not restored quickly.
Venezuela’s Oil Ministry, state-owned energy company PDVSA and major foreign partner Chevron did not immediately comment on the situation.
The earthquakes also triggered regional concerns beyond Venezuela’s borders. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System initially issued a tsunami threat for Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Authorities also warned that hazardous waves could affect Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.The warning was canceled roughly one hour later after additional assessments indicated the risk had diminished. Venezuela sits along the boundary where the Caribbean Plate interacts with the South American Plate, making it one of the more seismically active regions in northern South America.