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Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has confirmed that at least 164 people have died and 971 were injured after a pair of powerful quakes rocked Venezuela.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century and could be felt throughout the region. Buildings were evacuated in places as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
Rescue teams continued searching through damaged buildings and debris as authorities worked to assess the full scale of the destruction. The earthquakes struck in quick succession, sending strong tremors through several communities and triggering panic among residents. Buildings were damaged or destroyed, roads were affected, and critical infrastructure suffered varying degrees of impact, complicating rescue and relief operations.
Seismologists note that powerful earthquakes can be particularly destructive when they occur close together, as weakened structures from the first tremor may be unable to withstand a second shock.
Rodríguez said that authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, which sits north of Caracas on the coast. Rodríguez described La Guaira as a “disaster zone” and one of the areas hardest hit by the quakes because of the large number of collapsed buildings. She said that officials were trying to make the most of the daylight hours to speed up efforts to rescue people believed to remain trapped under the rubble.
Authorities warned that casualty figures could continue to rise as rescue workers gain access to heavily damaged structures and remote locations. Hospitals in affected regions have been placed on high alert as they treat hundreds of injured residents. Medical facilities have reportedly been working around the clock to provide emergency care to victims suffering from fractures, cuts and other earthquake-related injuries.
The destruction caused by the earthquakes has left many families displaced. Emergency shelters have been established to accommodate residents whose homes were damaged or deemed unsafe. Government agencies and humanitarian organizations have begun distributing food, water, blankets and other essential supplies to those affected.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the earthquakes struck. Many residents rushed into open spaces seeking safety while others searched for family members and neighbors in the aftermath of the tremors. In several communities, rescue workers and volunteers joined forces to remove debris and assist trapped victims
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage structures, and many people stayed on the streets for hours, some sitting on the ground hugging pets as dust gathered around them. Others spent the night in parked cars, subway stations and other public places.
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Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone coverage, and the earthquakes damaged and closed Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country’s main airport.
The lack of cellphone signal in parts of Venezuela deepened the distress of many families, particularly those among the more than 7.7 million people who have left the country during its protracted crisis and who struggled to reach relatives inside the country.
In Caracas, subway services were suspended and natural gas shut off. Classes will also be canceled for several days, and the Ministry of Education said that some school buildings would be used as shelters and donation centers.
The earthquakes have once again highlighted the vulnerability of communities to major natural disasters and the importance of preparedness, resilient infrastructure and effective emergency response systems. As rescue workers continue their operations, families across the affected regions are mourning loved ones while hoping for news of those still unaccounted for.
Government Creates Reconstruction Fund
Meanwhile, Rodríguez said that the government was creating a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals and homes damaged by the earthquakes and had instructed the Economy and Finance Ministers to oversee the effort.
She also appealed to the private sector to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations, adding that search and rescue teams certified by the United Nations were on their way to Venezuela to assist.
While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America.
While uncommon in Venezuela, earthquakes are frequent along the Pacific coast, including in Mexico and Chile, which both sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, an area that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says is responsible for 90% of earthquakes.
