Two powerful earthquakes, including Venezuela's strongest in over a century, struck near the capital Caracas on Wednesday evening, leaving thousands feared dead and causing widespread destruction. The first quake, a magnitude 7.2, hit about 160 kilometers west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey. The disaster compounded years of economic turmoil that had already left much of the country's infrastructure fragile, hampering rescue and recovery efforts.
Confirmed Deaths and Widespread Damage
Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela's national assembly and brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, confirmed at least 188 deaths, with 200 people trapped under rubble. He reported 1,520 injuries and at least 250 buildings damaged or destroyed. The worst-affected area, La Guaira state near Caracas, was described as a disaster zone. In the coastal capital of La Guaira, rescue workers were scarce, and volunteers dug with their bare hands to reach survivors. Yamileth Jimenez, a resident, said her 19-year-old son was believed trapped under the rubble of their seven-story apartment building. "He's under the slabs and there's no machinery to get him out. My father died three days ago and now this happens. It's just my son and me," she said.
Panic and Chaos During the Quakes
Many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes struck during a public holiday. Witness footage showed scenes of panic as ceilings collapsed. Residents fled shaking buildings and poured into the streets as structures collapsed across Caracas and nearby coastal areas. Maria Alejandra, a Caracas resident who did not give her surname, described the scene as "like a horror movie." In Morón, a small seaside town near the epicenter in Carabobo state, three children were among at least eight killed, according to Mayor Emily Riera. Houses collapsed, and there was no water or electricity.
Predictions of Thousands of Deaths
The US Geological Survey, using predictive modeling, estimated the death toll would most likely run into the thousands, with a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000. A website tracking missing people, shared by opposition leaders, listed more than 35,000 people as unaccounted for. Reuters could not verify every report. The magnitude 7.5 quake was Venezuela's strongest since 1900. The country lies on the boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates and has suffered devastating earthquakes, including one that killed an estimated 30,000 in 1812. Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner in southern Caracas, said, "This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967," referring to a magnitude 6.3 quake that killed 240 people.
International Solidarity and Aid
Leaders from across the political spectrum expressed solidarity with Venezuela, a notable shift from the international polarization surrounding the country in recent years. Rodriguez said international rescue teams were expected soon and thanked leaders including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said the US was "ready, willing and able to help," while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said rescue teams were being deployed and the Pentagon would send assets to Caracas' damaged airport. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the organization was coordinating rapid deployment of international rescue teams, adding that a massive collective effort would be needed in a country where even before the quake, 8 million people needed humanitarian aid.
Challenges in Rescue and Recovery
Other cities and towns close to Caracas, including El Junquito and La Guaira, remained without power on Thursday morning. The UN's Venezuela human rights mission urged the government to lift restrictions on some social media, calling it a matter of life and death. Access became available in some areas where cell services are unreliable. At Caracas' Hospital de Clinicas, staff doubled up on the night shift to treat the injured. School was canceled for the rest of the week, and the city's stock exchange was closed and will be used for rescue efforts. The Venezuelan Red Cross said its headquarters had been critically damaged but sent rescue teams to the worst-affected areas. The French embassy was also badly hit. Near the epicenter, workers were restarting the Morón Petrochemical Complex, Venezuela's second-largest in operation, after damage was assessed. Other oil infrastructure appeared unaffected. Chevron, the main foreign partner of Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA, said all employees were accounted for and operations continued. UK oil firm Shell said all its employees were unhurt.
Looting and Desperation
Residents in La Guaira searched for food and water. Reuters witnessed looting at two stores. Pedro Perez, 64, owner of an upholstery workshop, said, "We lost everything. We have no food or medicines. We managed to get out in time and only have minor injuries... we hope help arrives quickly." Expatriate groups representing Venezuela's diaspora, which numbers in the millions after years of mass migration, began organizing aid collections abroad as relatives worked to contact family members back home. Rodriguez called for unity in Venezuela, where anti-government protests over annual inflation of more than 500% have become more frequent since Trump ordered the capture of President Nicolas Maduro in a violent raid in January.
