The north of Venezuela was first hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2, followed less than a minute by another with a magnitude of 7.5. The epicenter was located approximately 160 kilometers west of the metropolis of Caracas, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
The biggest damage is reported from the Venezuelan state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, where dozens of buildings collapsed. In the coastal town of Catia la Mar, electricity was cut and many residents spent the night on the streets or searching for their relatives.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called on people in the affected areas to leave their homes and cut off gas supplies in several places as a precaution. “We have several damaged buildings here and we don’t want any accidents related to gas leaks,” he said.
Several European countries have already promised Venezuela aid. France will provide 85 rescuers, Germany six military transport planes and Spain 54 military rescuers. According to US President Donald Trump, the earthquakes claimed a devastating number of victims. Like Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, he did not release any specifics. According to the head of the White House, the United States is ready to help Venezuela.
According to US President Donald Trump, the earthquakes claimed a devastating number of victims. Like Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, he did not release any specifics. According to the head of the White House, the United States is ready to help Venezuela.
“The two earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are massive in scale and left a devastating toll,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The United States is ready, willing and able to help,” he said. He said he had ordered US authorities to act quickly. “We will stand by our new and great friends,” the president also said.
This earthquake was at a depth of 10 kilometers and its epicenter was located 16 kilometers southwest of Morón. Rodríguez said that almost 20 aftershocks hit the country. According to AP, these earthquakes are among the strongest in more than 100 years.
“A high number of victims and extensive damage is likely, the disaster is extensive,” the USGS said, estimating that the number of victims could be between 10,000 and 100,000.
The interim president offered condolences to the relatives of the victims, but did not mention their number in the speech broadcast on state television, the agencies report. It also remains unclear how many people were injured.
The AP agency writes that both ordinary Venezuelans and opposition politicians criticized Rodríguez for taking a long time to speak publicly. They also blame her for not informing the authorities about the victims and the injured.
Devastated airport, buildings falling
The country’s main airport, located in Maiquetia, near Caracas, is closed. It has a lot of damage, Rodríguez said.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the situation is bad in Caracas’ Altamira neighborhood, where residential buildings and other buildings have collapsed. He urged people to stay out because aftershocks could cause more damage. He urged drivers to make way for ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
Many people were at home at the time of the earthquake because Venezuela celebrated a public holiday on Wednesday. Eighty-year-old María Romero, who lives in the southern part of Caracas, said the police helped her evacuate her home. “This earthquake was terrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she added.
Fire trucks have taken to the streets of Caracas and the facades of some houses are badly damaged. Many residents of Caracas found themselves without electricity or internet immediately after the earthquake.
One witness said a wall on the side of their apartment cracked and the glass in the lobby shattered. According to the AP agency, many people were in shock because entire walls collapsed on houses and furniture was visible from the street.
The US Tsunami Warning System has issued a tsunami warning for Puerto Rico and the British and US Virgin Islands. It also concerned the islands off the coast of Venezuela – Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. After about an hour, the warning was lifted.
The Pope sent Venezuela initial financial aid in the amount of 100,000 euros
Pope Leo XIV. donated “initial” financial aid of 100,000 euros to earthquake-stricken Venezuela, the Vatican announced on Thursday. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency.
The funds come from the Apostolic Almshouse – the Vatican office, which carries out charitable activities on behalf of the Pope and provides material assistance to people in need.
This is an “initial contribution” intended to support rescue efforts, the news website Vatican News said.
The earth also shook in Japan and the USA
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 also hit northern Japan on Thursday, the country’s meteorological agency said. According to her, there was no tsunami warning issued. Authorities have not yet reported any casualties or major damage.
The earthquake occurred off the northern coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 50 kilometers, the Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed. According to The Japan Times, moderate tremors were also felt in Tokyo.
“At this time, we have no information to indicate any casualties, but we will continue to monitor and assess the situation in relation to the damage,” said government spokesman Minoru Kihara.
Japan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, as it lies on four main tectonic plates along the western edge of the so-called The ring of fire. Hundreds of earthquakes hit the country every year.
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook a rural area in northwestern California on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. The strongest earthquake in this region since 1940 caused several injuries, according to the authorities. They did not report any major damage.
The earthquake’s epicenter was in an area of Mendocino County that is dotted with small farming towns. The area lies approximately 225 kilometers northeast of San Francisco.
Hospitals reported several injured people, according to the authorities. Details on the nature or extent of the injuries are not known.
The tremors were felt by people across the region and led to power outages that affected more than 6,000 residents in six towns near the epicenter, according to the USGC. People were asked to stay off highways and roads to allow passage for workers to inspect the damage and make necessary repairs.
“It was almost like something hit the building,” said Brie Leon, who had just opened a restaurant with her colleagues when the building began to shake.
“Earthquakes do happen in this area, but they’re usually weaker than this,” noted California seismologist Lucy Jones. According to her, it was the strongest earthquake in almost nine decades.
