As “a real tragedy” the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, the consequences of the devastating double earthquake that struck the country, the strongest in the last 126 years.
The two consecutive seismic tremors—the first measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale at 01:04 (Greek time), and the second measuring 7.5, 39 seconds later, have caused widespread destruction, with the death toll currently standing at 32, according to initial reports, though estimates suggest a dramatic increase in the number of victims.
The country has been declared to be in a state of emergency, the damage in the capital of Caracas is extensive and residents are terrified, while the rescue teams are “racing against time” to free people and animals from the rubble.
Video from Maikete International Airport captures the moment the two powerful earthquakes struck.
Fears of many casualties
According to the country’s president, at least 32 people have lost their lives and more than 700 have been injured by the two powerful earthquakes.
However, initial estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) suggest a very high death toll, widespread destruction, and the possibility of strong aftershocks in the coming hours. The agency’s models estimate that there is a 44% probability that the death toll will exceed 10,000, while they estimate a 30% probability that the death toll will exceed 100,000.
According to USGS data, the first seismic tremor—the “foreshock,” as it was characterized—measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 6:04 p.m. (local time; 01:04 Greek time) at a depth of 21.9 kilometers, about 200 kilometers west of Caracas. The second, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, with a shallow focal depth of 10 kilometers, followed 39 seconds later, 45 kilometers from there. About 20 strong aftershocks were then recorded.
According to the USGS, this is a “double event” and a “disaster expected to be of significant scale.” “It is likely that the toll will be heavy and the damage significant,” it emphasized, noting that based on its prediction model, thousands of deaths are expected, while there is an increased likelihood that the number will exceed 10,000.
Buildings have collapsed
According to Delsi Rodriguez, “dozens of buildings have collapsed, and intensive rescue efforts are currently underway to save as many lives as God allows.”
Three people were killed in the Baruta neighborhood of Caracas, where two buildings collapsed, the mayor reported on social media.
“We have buildings, houses, and single-family homes that have collapsed, and we are dealing with the situation with whatever resources we have available,” commented Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
The mayor of the Tsakao community in Caracas, Gustavo Duque, reported Wednesday night that at least four buildings collapsed as a result of the powerful earthquakes that rocked the capital and other areas of Venezuela, while six more buildings have sustained significant damage and are currently being assessed.
Panic
Many panicked residents rushed out into the streets after the powerful earthquakes. They remained there overnight, not daring to return for fear that houses and other buildings would collapse if there were more aftershocks.
“It was unbelievable; I don’t even know how long it lasted. I was on the top floor and things started falling,” said Heidi Romero, a 42-year-old store manager who works at a shopping center in Altamira. “The entire wall was covered in cracks, things were falling from the ceiling—it was horrible,” said Odalis Escalona, a 54-year-old bank employee.
There were reports of power outages in the capital, where many streets were littered with broken glass.
Carmen Gedes, 69, was in her bedridden sister’s room when the ground began to shake. “The intensity just kept increasing,” said the resident of a middle-class neighborhood in the hills of the capital. “I started to see the windows shaking, then everything was shaking. My sister, a neighbor, and I were clinging to each other; we couldn’t get out,” she added.
Increase in hospital staff
After the earthquakes, a tsunami warning was issued, but it was quickly lifted.
At Hospital de Clínicas , orders were given to double the night shift staff in order to handle the large influx of injured patients.
Venezuela’s largest airport in Maiquetía, on the coast north of Caracas, has suspended operations due to the damage it has sustained, Rodríguez noted.
Classes at schools have been suspended for the rest of the week.
At least ten aftershocks
At least 10 aftershocks were recorded on Thursday morning, ranging from 2.4 to 4.5 on the Richter scale at shallow focal depths.
The Venezuelan Seismological Research Foundation (Funvisis) reported 10 aftershocks, most of which occurred in the states of La Guaira and Miranda.
Of the total number of aftershocks, six were recorded in La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas.
The earthquakes in Venezuela were also felt in Curaçao
The government of Curaçao reported that residents of the Caribbean island nation also felt the tremors from the earthquakes in Venezuela. There were no immediate reports of serious damage in the area.
Curaçao is located about 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela and about 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of the earthquake epicenters.
Condolences
Delcy Rodríguez contacted Marco Rubio. “I had a phone conversation with the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Marco Rubio, who expressed his solidarity and support for the people of Venezuela during these difficult times for our country,” Rodríguez wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, leaders from countries such as El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Spain, China, and Brazil have offered their support.
Beijing is “willing to offer as much assistance as it can” to Venezuela, said the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiajun.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “his thoughts and support for the people of Venezuela.” “I express my deepest solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those who have mobilized on the ground,” Macron said in a post on social media.
Condolences from Trump
In a post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump noted that the U.S. is ready, willing, and able to help Venezuela: “The two major earthquakes that have just struck the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have caused a terrible number of deaths,” he wrote.
The U.S. will “immediately” deploy rescue and humanitarian aid teams to assist Venezuela, which was struck by two powerful earthquakes that have claimed the lives of, according to the information available so far, at least 32 people, according to a statement issued by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“”The State Department will immediately deploy rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian aid to Venezuela,” Rubio said in a post on social media platform X, adding that “America stands with the people of Venezuela during these difficult times.”
