Twin powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 4,300 others, officials said Thursday, as frantic rescue operations continued in collapsed buildings across La Guaira and Caracas.
The first quake, a 7.2-magnitude event, struck at 6:04 p.m. local time (VET), followed just 39 seconds later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude mainshock. Both were centered near Morón in Yaracuy state, but the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital, suffered the heaviest destruction. Dozens of buildings pancaked in Caracas neighborhoods and La Guaira, where more than 100 structures collapsed in some areas. The Simón Bolívar International Airport was heavily damaged and closed, power and cellphone networks failed in parts of the capital, and the Caracas metro was suspended.
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado told state television that around 235 people had died — many arriving at hospitals without vital signs — with the majority of casualties in La Guaira. He said most of the 4,300 injuries were minor but warned the figures would rise. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, designated La Guaira a disaster zone, and announced a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals and homes. She thanked offers of aid from the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Qatar, Colombia, and others. The U.S. Treasury temporarily waived sanctions to speed relief, and American search-and-rescue teams are deploying alongside teams from the Dominican Republic.
Rescue work is urgent but difficult. In many neighborhoods, residents and volunteers are digging through rubble with bare hands and limited heavy equipment. International teams are arriving, and authorities have appealed to businesses for excavators and cranes. Aftershocks continue, and thousands of people are reported missing, with families posting handwritten lists of names on walls and posting flyers.
Heartbreaking scenes have emerged. A mother collapsed in grief after the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old children were pulled from rubble. In another case, a woman trapped under a concrete slab was rescued alive after neighbors spotted her signaling for help. One resident described spending the night in the open, terrified of further collapses.
The earthquakes struck a country already facing a deep humanitarian crisis. Schools have been canceled for several days, and some buildings are being used as shelters and donation centers. Officials say the final death toll could climb significantly higher in the coming days as search efforts expand