International
oi-Ashish Rana
Venezuela is battling one of the deadliest natural disasters in its recent history after two powerful earthquakes struck the country within minutes of each other on Wednesday evening. The twin quakes have left at least 164 people dead and 971 others injured, while rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Venezuela experienced two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, on Wednesday, resulting in at least 164 deaths and 971 injuries, with La Guaira suffering severe damage, prompting rescue efforts, international aid, and a $200 million reconstruction fund.
La Guaira Suffers Worst Damage as Rescue Efforts Intensify
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the coastal state of La Guaira has emerged as one of the worst-hit areas, describing it as a “disaster zone” after widespread building collapses.
State television broadcast dramatic images of three children being rescued alive from the rubble in La Guaira. Covered in dust but unharmed, the children were among the first survivors pulled from collapsed structures.
Rodríguez said emergency authorities are moving additional rescue teams from across the country to strengthen operations in the devastated region.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” Rodríguez said.
She also appealed to private companies to provide heavy construction equipment needed to clear debris and reach those believed to be trapped beneath the ruins. United Nations-certified search and rescue teams are also expected to arrive in Venezuela to assist local authorities.
The acting president announced the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund to repair damaged hospitals and homes. She said the economy and finance ministries have been directed to oversee the rebuilding programme.
Panic Across Caracas as Residents Rush Outdoors
The powerful earthquakes sent residents across Caracas running out of homes, offices and apartment buildings as walls cracked and buildings swayed violently. Dust clouds rose over several neighbourhoods while damaged buildings exposed furniture and interiors to the streets.
“It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together,” Caracas resident Hector Ricci said.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to remain outdoors because of the possibility of dangerous aftershocks. Many families spent the night on roads, inside parked vehicles, metro stations and other public spaces. Some were seen sitting on pavements with their pets while waiting for updates.
The disaster also disrupted essential services. Parts of Caracas experienced power outages and mobile phone networks stopped functioning. Simón Bolívar International Airport was damaged and temporarily closed, while metro services and natural gas supplies were suspended. Authorities also cancelled school classes for several days, with some educational institutions being converted into shelters and relief collection centres.
Another resident, Roberto Gamas, recalled the terrifying experience.
“The building he was in shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong.”
Communication failures further heightened anxiety, particularly among families of the more than 7.7 million Venezuelans living abroad who struggled to contact relatives back home.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, currently in exile, shared a message on X wishing Venezuelans “strength, serenity, and solidarity.”
Twin Earthquakes Among Strongest in More Than a Century
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude and struck west of Moron on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast at a depth of about 22 kilometres.
Barely a minute later, a second and even stronger earthquake measuring 7.5 magnitude struck southwest of Moron at a shallower depth of around 10 kilometres.
The back-to-back earthquakes were among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than 100 years. Tremors were felt far beyond the country’s borders, prompting evacuations in parts of Brazil’s Amazon region nearly 1,700 kilometres from Caracas. Shaking was also reported across Colombia’s Caribbean and northeastern regions.
Although Venezuela lies near several fault lines, destructive earthquakes of this scale are relatively uncommon compared with other Latin American countries.
International Community Extends Support
Countries around the world quickly offered humanitarian assistance following the disaster.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States was “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”
Rodríguez thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for the support and later confirmed she had spoken with Rubio by telephone. She also expressed gratitude to several other nations for their assistance.
Ecuador has dispatched humanitarian aid, while Qatar, Mexico and El Salvador have already sent rescue personnel to support relief efforts.
“We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wrote in a post on X.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center briefly issued tsunami alerts after the earthquakes, though they were later withdrawn. While major earthquakes are relatively rare in Venezuela, they occur more frequently along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic belt responsible for around 90 per cent of the world’s earthquakes.
