Venezuela has declared a state of emergency following two major earthquakes that struck the country. The twin quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused significant damage, particularly in the capital city of Caracas. Initial reports from interim President Delcy Rodriguez stated at least 32 deaths and over 700 injuries, but this toll was later updated to at least 164 fatalities and 971 injured as more information, including data from the hard-hit state of La Guaira, became available. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the magnitudes and noted that the 7.5 magnitude quake was preceded by a 7.2 magnitude foreshock. The earthquakes were felt as far away as Bogota, Colombia. The quakes also triggered a tsunami warning, although details on the outcome of that warning are not yet clear.
The earthquakes led to widespread destruction, toppling dozens of buildings and devastating the country's main international airport, Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia near Caracas, which was subsequently closed due to damage. Power lines were knocked down, and vital supplies were cut to several areas as a precaution. Emergency crews are engaged in massive search and rescue operations, working through collapsed buildings to find survivors. The USGS warned that high casualties and extensive damage were probable, attributing this to many buildings in the affected region being made from unreinforced brick masonry and adobe, which are highly vulnerable to strong earthquakes. US President Donald Trump commented on the "devastating number of deaths.
In response to the disaster, interim President Delcy Rodriguez urged medical professionals to report to hospitals and clinics to assist the injured. Classes were suspended, and train services halted. Several countries, including the US, China, India, the European Union, Spain, and Italy, have expressed solidarity and offered urgent aid. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US was immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela. The full extent of the destruction and the final casualty figures are still being assessed as rescue operations continue, with experts warning of the possibility of strong aftershocks in the coming days. These earthquakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, with the 7.5 magnitude event being the most powerful since a 7.7 magnitude offshore quake in October 1900.
