VENEZUELA: The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has climbed to at least 164, while 971 people have been injured, interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Thursday.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 kilometres west of Caracas at around 6pm local time on Wednesday. Less than a minute later, it was followed by a stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor.
The earthquakes, the most powerful to hit Venezuela since 1900, caused widespread destruction, prompting rescuers and residents to search through collapsed buildings in darkness for survivors and extract people trapped beneath the rubble.
Rodriguez said approximately 30 aftershocks had been recorded since the two major earthquakes. She described La Guaira, located near the capital Caracas, as the region worst affected by the disaster.
Earlier, the interim president declared a state of emergency as the earthquakes caused buildings to collapse in the capital and forced the closure of the country’s main airport.
The USGS warned that the disaster could be severe, saying, “High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread.” The agency initially estimated that the eventual death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000.
According to the USGS, the 7.5-magnitude quake was the strongest to strike Venezuela since October 29, 1900, when a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred offshore.
AFP reporters said several residential buildings suffered major structural damage, including large cracks and collapsed walls, while dozens of other buildings were completely destroyed. Local officials and witnesses reported multiple building collapses, rescue operations and a growing number of casualties.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said authorities were mobilising all available resources to respond to the emergency.
“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,” Cabello said on state television. He added that firefighters, police and other emergency services had been fully activated.
Video footage showed emergency responders climbing through the ruins of a collapsed building in Caracas after nightfall, while distressed relatives searched for information about loved ones believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
In the eastern Caracas municipality of Chacao, Mayor Gustavo Duque told broadcaster Globovision that two buildings had collapsed, leaving 16 people injured and causing fatalities, although he did not provide a specific death toll.
“We’re going to do everything we can to rescue the most people possible,” Duque said.
Many Venezuelans were at home when the earthquakes struck during a public holiday commemorating an 1821 military victory that played a key role in securing the country’s independence from Spain.
Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicist living in western Caracas, said panic spread immediately after the shaking began.
“As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming,” she said. “Everyone was running down the stairs.”
Residents across Caracas rushed out of buildings as the city shook. Caracas was previously struck by a deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 1967.
“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, a 56-year-old resident of eastern Caracas.
Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner from southern Caracas, said police helped her evacuate her home. “This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said.
Another resident, a 41-year-old office worker who requested anonymity, said she received an earthquake alert on her mobile phone moments before the strongest shaking began.
“It was a normal afternoon, and suddenly my phone sounded an earthquake alert,” she said. “As I picked it up and started listening to what it was saying, I first felt light shaking. Then, in less than two seconds, everything started moving.”
Rodriguez has been leading Venezuela since the US-backed removal of President Nicolas Maduro in January. Since assuming office, she has promoted greater cooperation with the United States and other countries, particularly in the oil, mining and industrial sectors.
The US Embassy in Caracas said it was closely monitoring the situation and advised American citizens in Venezuela to seek safe shelter and stay away from damaged structures.
US President Donald Trump also expressed concern over the disaster, saying the earthquakes had caused a significant number of fatalities.
“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 Truth Social.
“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.”
In Caracas, fire trucks were deployed throughout the city as emergency crews responded to damaged buildings, some of which suffered major façade collapses.
At Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas, staff members were instructed to remain on extended shifts to help treat the growing number of injured people. Video footage from the hospital showed darkened corridors, ceiling panels hanging from cables and plaster scattered across the floor.
Videos circulating on social media also appeared to show extensive damage at Venezuela’s main airport, while residents reported building collapses in La Guaira, a coastal city near Caracas. Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the footage.
Several municipalities in Caracas cancelled classes and public events through Monday as authorities began assessing the full extent of the destruction.
Following the earthquakes, the US Tsunami Warning System issued tsunami alerts for Puerto Rico as well as the US and British Virgin Islands. It also warned that hazardous waves could affect Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. However, the warning was withdrawn approximately one hour later.
Venezuela is located in a seismically active region where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate. According to the USGS, an estimated 30,000 people were killed in 1812 when a powerful earthquake caused widespread devastation in the cities of Merida and Caracas.