At least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other, triggering widespread destruction and a major emergency response across the South American nation.
According to AFP and other international reports, the earthquakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening. The tremors caused buildings to collapse, forced thousands of residents into the streets, and prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed the casualty figures early Thursday, warning that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble, particularly in the hard-hit state of La Guaira near the capital, Caracas.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts,” Rodríguez said during a televised address.
The twin quakes struck less than a minute apart, with the second tremor proving even more powerful than the first. The shocks were felt across much of the country and as far away as neighbouring Colombia. Authorities have reported more than 20 aftershocks since the initial earthquakes.
Emergency workers, volunteers and residents have joined rescue operations in Caracas and other affected areas, searching collapsed buildings for survivors. The disaster also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including the closure of the country’s main airport and disruptions to transport services.
Several countries, including the United States and regional neighbours, have offered assistance as Venezuela grapples with one of its most powerful seismic events in more than a century.
Rescue efforts remain ongoing as authorities work to assess the full scale of the disaster and provide support to affected communities.
