Venezuela has declared a nationwide state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday evening, killing at least 164 people and injuring nearly 1,000. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez warned the toll could rise sharply as rescue operations continue across devastated regions.
The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit within 39 seconds of each other near the coastal town of Morón, about 170 kilometers west of Caracas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) described the event as a rare seismic doublet, noting that the 7.5 tremor was the strongest to strike Venezuela since 1900. The shallow depth of 13 kilometers amplified the destruction.
The capital suffered the worst devastation. Dozens of buildings collapsed, including residential towers in Baruta and Chacao districts. Simón Bolívar International Airport was forced to close after sustaining “severe damage,” while metro and train services were suspended. Social media videos showed panicked passengers fleeing falling debris inside the airport.
Authorities reported at least 30 aftershocks overnight, raising fears of further collapses. Hospitals across Caracas are overwhelmed, and schools have been converted into emergency shelters. Rescue workers and volunteers continue to search for survivors, with reports of people trapped under rubble in Altamira, a district home to several foreign embassies.
Global aid offers have poured in. The United States announced it was deploying search and rescue teams, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance. Spain pledged 54 army rescuers, while France prepared 85 emergency workers. Pope Francis pledged €100,000 in immediate support, and the United Nations urged Venezuela to ensure open communication channels, calling access to information “a life-and-death matter.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was “ready, willing and able to help,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deployment of American relief teams.
Rodríguez, in a televised address, urged citizens to evacuate damaged buildings and remain calm. “We send our immediate condolences to those who have lost relatives,” she said. Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, warned that aftershocks could further weaken already damaged structures.
The earthquakes were felt as far away as Brazil’s Amazon region, and temporary tsunami alerts were issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. With thousands displaced and critical infrastructure damaged, Venezuela faces one of its gravest humanitarian challenges in decades.
