Venezuela Quakes Trigger State of Emergency

Two powerful earthquakes struck central Venezuela on Wednesday, causing buildings to collapse in Caracas and prompting people to flee to the streets. The strongest quake was the most intense to hit the nation since 1900.

Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency. “To those who have tragically lost family members, we extend our immediate condolences,” she said in a televised address. While not specifying casualty numbers, the president urged medical personnel to report to work to assist the injured, amid fears of a significant catastrophe.

The first quake, measuring 7.2 in magnitude, occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern Time. It was followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor less than a minute later, according to U.S. monitoring agencies. The epicenter was near San Felipe in Yaracuy state, approximately 320 kilometers west of the capital, Caracas. As seismologists analyze the data, they may update the quake magnitudes.

The U.S. Geological Survey released a preliminary analysis describing a “double seismic sequence of great intensity.” Paul Earle, an agency seismologist, labeled the events as “devastating.”

The earthquakes add to the difficulties for a country facing extraordinary political and economic upheaval. U.S. forces ousted Nicolas Maduro in January, following his term marked by economic collapse and attempts at authoritarian rule.

Since then, the Trump administration has taken control of Venezuela’s oil industry, leading the country to distance itself from former allies like Cuba, Iran, and Russia. American investors are eyeing opportunities in Caracas.

Josefina Hernández, a 48-year-old administrator in Valencia, described a deafening noise preceding the quake. Power was lost immediately, and everything in her home shifted around.

In Caracas’s El Paraíso neighborhood, emergency crews sifted through the rubble of a collapsed six-story residential building, searching for survivors. Distraught families gathered behind police tape. Members of the Bolivarian National Guard, police, and Civil Protection called out missing residents’ names, urging onlookers to remain silent so those trapped could hear.

Social media videos showed passengers seeking refuge inside the Maiquetía International Airport near Caracas, and rescuers searching through toppled structures in the capital. U.S. embassy officials in Caracas are closely monitoring the situation and advised Americans in Venezuela to consult the State Department’s “Safe Traveler” page for updates.

Further Details

International Aid: El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced on social media that his country offered support to Venezuela. A team of 300 rescuers and paramedics stood ready to head to Caracas with equipment, medicines, and supplies.

Previous Disaster: The Wednesday tremors quickly drew comparisons with the 1967 earthquake that wreaked havoc in the capital, claiming over 200 lives.

Other Quakes: Earlier, a 5.6 magnitude quake struck Northern California, and a 6.9 magnitude quake hit Japan’s coast. Neither caused widespread damage. Experts stated there is no evidence linking the recent quakes.

A video verified by the Times shows a hotel reduced to rubble in La Guaira, north of Caracas. The U.S. Department of State is monitoring the aftermath in Venezuela, confirming “all American personnel are safe,” according to Dylan Johnson, Under Secretary for Global Affairs.

U.S. will dispatch search and rescue teams, medical supplies, and essential humanitarian resources to Venezuela, said Jeremy Lewin from the Department of State.

Neighboring countries have offered humanitarian aid and rescue support. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa promised immediate assistance. Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino pledged humanitarian support, while Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva directed his Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess aid options.

Three deaths were reported from two collapsed buildings in Caracas’s Baruta municipality, said Darwin González, Baruta’s mayor. Search and rescue teams saved 18 people from damaged structures in Chacao, Caracas, noted Gustavo Duque Sáez, Chacao’s mayor. He mentioned over 500 officials participated in rescue efforts.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, after visiting Venezuela, expressed “thoughts and prayers” for the country. “We extend our deepest condolences to those suffering losses and wish strength, security, and speedy recovery for affected communities,” he wrote online.

Many Venezuelans in Florida struggled to reach family in Caracas as mobile and Internet networks faced instability. Adelys Ferro, Venezuelan American Caucus Director, noted it took dozens of calls to contact her family. “The community is desperate to reach relatives,” she said, urging Venezuela to lift internet restrictions.

In Doral, Florida, where many Venezuelans live, Councilman Rafael Pineyro organized a donation drive. “Most Venezuelans here have family in Caracas,” Pineyro noted. “This deeply affects our community.”

President Rodríguez announced temporary closure of Maiquetía International Airport due to damages, requesting neighboring nations’ support.

Genevieve Glatsky reported from Bogotá, Colombia, and María Victoria Fermín from Caracas, Venezuela.