Twin Powerful Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela; Over 235 Dead, Thousands Injured as Rescue Efforts Intensify.
Caracas:
Rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela near the capital Caracas, leaving at least 235 people dead and more than 4,300 injured. Authorities fear the death toll could rise significantly as emergency workers continue searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within seconds of each other at 6:04 p.m. local time on Wednesday, a national holiday when many people were at home. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), both quakes were shallow, making the destruction particularly severe.
The worst-hit areas include Caracas and the nearby coastal city of La Guaira, where residents trapped beneath collapsed buildings could be heard calling for help. Officials said around 250 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including a 10-storey hotel in La Guaira that was reduced to rubble.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency, while rescue operations continue amid more than 30 aftershocks. Venezuela’s main international airport in Maiquetía has been closed after sustaining significant structural damage.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said several regions, including Trujillo, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua and Miranda, also suffered damage. In Caracas, rescue teams have pulled dozens of survivors from collapsed buildings, though many people remain missing.
The USGS warned that casualties could increase dramatically, estimating a high probability of widespread destruction due to the strength and shallow depth of the earthquakes.
International assistance has begun arriving, with the United States pledging $150 million in aid and deploying military transport aircraft and ships to support rescue operations. The Dominican Republic, Mexico, El Salvador and Qatar have also offered assistance.
Officials said power outages and internet disruptions have complicated rescue efforts and damage assessment. The second quake is the strongest recorded in Venezuela since 1900, according to USGS records, making it one of the country’s most devastating natural disasters in modern history.
