Buildings Collapse as Twin Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela
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At least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes — measuring 7.2 and 7.5 — struck central Venezuela seconds apart, causing widespread destruction across Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira.
The absolute terror. Just awful. It's so bad. I think this is the worse quake I've covered.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, saying dozens of buildings had collapsed and rescue teams were “engaged in the arduous task of saving lives.” Schools, train services and the main airport in Maiquetía were shut due to structural damage.
“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. The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/laeZ9nvTMf
The US Geological Survey confirmed the first quake was a foreshock, followed by a stronger mainshock in what it described as a rare seismic doublet. The quakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century.
Regional governments — including El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Brazil — have offered rescue teams and humanitarian supplies. The United States said it is mobilising assistance, deploying disaster experts and preparing search‑and‑rescue support.
Residents fled into the streets as aftershocks continued, with authorities urging people to remain outdoors and avoid damaged buildings. A brief tsunami warning for nearby Caribbean islands was later lifted.
The full scale of destruction remains unclear as emergency crews continue to search through rubble in multiple neighbourhoods of the capital.
