enezuela declared a state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck the country in quick succession, collapsing buildings in Caracas and nearby states, forcing residents into the streets and triggering warnings that the disaster could produce a sharply higher death toll.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said the government had activated emergency response systems and was seeking international assistance after the quakes hit on Wednesday evening. Authorities later confirmed at least 32 deaths and 700 injuries, though officials warned the toll did not yet include the full impact from La Guaira, one of the worst-hit areas near the capital.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the first quake, measured at magnitude 7.2, struck west of Caracas and was followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor. The agency said “high casualties and extensive damage” were probable and initially estimated the most likely death toll range at 10,000 to 100,000, a model-based warning rather than a confirmed count.
Emergency crews worked through the night at collapsed buildings in Caracas as relatives searched for people believed trapped under rubble. Local officials reported deaths in the Baruta and Chacao districts, where buildings collapsed and dozens were taken to hospital. In Falcon state, authorities said 22 people were injured and 15 adults were still missing.
Rodriguez, appearing on state television with senior officials, said she extended condolences to families of the dead but initially gave no national casualty figure. She said Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, the main airport serving Caracas, had been closed because of damage.
The government suspended classes and halted metro and rail services in Caracas, while officials urged residents to avoid damaged buildings as aftershocks continued. Images and videos from the capital showed shattered facades, damaged apartment blocks and people sheltering outdoors after the tremors. Reuters said emergency services were seen working at a collapsed building in Caracas.
The quakes struck during a public holiday, when many people were at home. Residents described violent shaking, falling objects and chaotic evacuations from high-rise buildings. Caracas, which suffered a deadly earthquake in 1967, is in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate.
International offers of help began arriving within hours. The United States said it was in contact with Venezuelan authorities and mobilizing assistance, while leaders from countries including El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Mexico also offered support. Rodriguez said Venezuela’s foreign ministry had been instructed to coordinate aid offers.
A tsunami warning was briefly issued after the earthquakes but was later cancelled. Officials said rescue operations and damage assessments were continuing across several states, with the confirmed death toll expected to rise as teams reach the worst-hit areas.