Caracas: A devastating natural disaster struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening local time, with two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, hitting within just 39 seconds. These tremors severely impacted the north-central region of the country, including the capital Caracas, causing dozens of commercial and residential buildings to collapse into rubble. Authorities have confirmed at least 32 deaths and over 700 injuries, amid a nationwide state of emergency declared by the government.
According to Thai News Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the first earthquake, measuring 7.2 magnitude, was centered in Carabobo state, about 160 kilometers west of Caracas, at a depth of 13.2 kilometers. Just 39 seconds later, a second, even more powerful earthquake, measuring 7.5 magnitude, struck approximately 10 kilometers below the surface. The tremors were felt widely, as far away as Bogot¡, Colombia. The USGS, using disaster models, warns that the losses could be substantial, with the death toll potentially reaching thousands and possibly exceeding 10,000.
The atmosphere in Caracas and surrounding states was chaotic, as the incident occurred on a public holiday afternoon when most people were resting indoors. Video footage from the area showed dust billowing and the ceiling of Maiketia International Airport collapsing in front of passengers who fled for their lives to open areas. As night fell, rescue workers raced through the rubble amidst the cries of people pleading for help for their relatives trapped underneath. Maria Alejandra, one survivor, described the event as a horror movie scene as everyone had to climb over piles of rubble, and that the building next to hers had collapsed, leaving only her family to escape.
Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodrguez delivered an urgent statement via state television at approximately 1:00 AM local time, acknowledging the disaster as a major tragedy for the country. The initial death toll of 32, while not including figures from La Guaira state, the hardest-hit coastal area and home to the main airport which has been temporarily closed, indicates the government is mobilizing all available resources to save as many lives as possible. Meanwhile, a website run by exiled opposition leaders on the X platform has generated over 6,600 missing persons reports within hours of the incident.
Regarding other impacts, while infrastructure and transportation systems suffered significant damage, schools were closed for the entire week, and widespread power outages occurred, potentially affecting crude oil production in the short term. However, key refineries like El Palito, near the earthquake's epicenter, and oil fields around Lake Maracaibo did not suffer serious damage. Shell also confirmed that all its employees are safe, and the initial tsunami warning for the Caribbean was lifted after the situation eased.
This crisis has also garnered international attention and expressions of concern, particularly from U.S. President Donald Trump, who posted a message on social media expressing his deepest condolences to the Venezuelan people and announcing that the U.S. is ready to send rescue teams and provide full humanitarian assistance. Chief Executive Delcy Rodriguez also issued a statement thanking leaders from various nations, including Brazil, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic, for their assistance, stating that international rescue teams would arrive in Venezuela within the next few hours to launch a large-scale rescue operation against time.