Two major earthquakes strike Venezuela

Rescuers in Venezuela are racing against time after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 164 people and injured nearly 1,000, leaving collapsed buildings, trapped residents and widespread damage across several states near the capital. Authorities say the disaster has prompted a state of emergency as emergency crews, soldiers and volunteers search through rubble for survivors.

The twin quakes struck on Wednesday evening, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and hitting within a minute of each other, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The second tremor was the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, with epicentres west of Caracas and severe shaking felt far beyond the capital.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the death toll had risen sharply from early reports of 32 dead to at least 164, underscoring how quickly the scale of the catastrophe has grown as rescue teams reach more affected areas. She also said 971 people had been injured and that several states, including La Guaira, Trujillo, Carabobo and Miranda, had suffered serious damage.

In Caracas and surrounding towns, residents spent Thursday searching for missing relatives while rescuers clambered over flattened apartments and damaged homes. Images and accounts from the scene described a chaotic effort to pull survivors from under concrete slabs and twisted metal, with many buildings reduced to rubble in the hardest-hit districts.

The quakes also caused major disruption to transportation and public infrastructure. Venezuela’s main international airport was damaged and closed, while tsunami warnings that were briefly issued for parts of the Caribbean were later lifted. Authorities said the impact extended well beyond the capital, raising fears that the final toll could still climb as communications improve and search operations continue.

International aid is beginning to mobilize. Spain has said it is ready to send rescue personnel, while France and the United States have also offered assistance as Venezuela struggles to cope with the scale of the disaster. Emergency teams are now focused on locating anyone still trapped, with the priority shifting from immediate response to sustained rescue and recovery efforts.

Seismologists said the back-to-back shocks were among the most powerful to hit the country since 1900, making this one of Venezuela’s most significant natural disasters in generations. Officials have warned that aftershocks are possible, adding to public anxiety in communities already rattled by the destruction.