Photo: EPA
Two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela, causing widespread destruction in Caracas and several other regions, with authorities reporting dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude and struck about 160 kilometers west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, a second, even stronger quake measuring 7.5 followed. Nearly 20 aftershocks were recorded afterward.
The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency across the country. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said that at least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured. She later clarified that these figures do not include casualties from La Guaira state, near Caracas and the city's airport, which suffered some of the heaviest damage.
The USGS estimates that the final death toll could rise significantly, potentially reaching between 1,000 and 10,000 victims.
Dozens of buildings reportedly collapsed, and emergency crews are conducting large-scale search-and-rescue operations to locate survivors trapped under the rubble.
While major damage has been reported in urban areas, officials stated that Venezuela’s oil infrastructure appears to have escaped significant impact, as the hardest-hit regions do not contain key oil production facilities. However, the main airport serving Caracas sustained damage and has been temporarily closed.
“We are carrying out intensive rescue operations to save as many lives as possible,” Rodríguez said, describing the disaster as a national tragedy and expressing condolences to the families of the victims.
She added that international rescue teams are expected to arrive within hours and thanked several world leaders for offering support, including US President Donald Trump.
