Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes within seconds of each other on Wednesday evening, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700 in what officials are calling the country’s most destructive seismic event in over a century.
According to the US Geological Survey, a magnitude 7.2 foreshock struck western Venezuela, followed about 40 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, with the epicentre located near the towns of San Felipe and Yumare, roughly 100 miles west of Caracas. The mainshock is now the largest recorded earthquake to strike Venezuela, and the strongest in over 125 years.
The tremors were powerful enough to be felt across countries throughout the region, and triggered a brief tsunami alert for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, since cancelled. In Caracas, multiple buildings collapsed, including a bank, sending residents fleeing into the streets as walls crumbled and furniture spilled onto pavements.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed the casualty figures and said the toll is expected to rise as the full extent of the destruction becomes clear. The hardest-hit areas include Caracas and the surrounding districts of La Guaira, Chacao and Baruta, with the Falcón region also reporting significant damage. Officials said over 20 aftershocks had been recorded in the hours following the quakes.
Rescue operations have continued through the night, with first responders, police and volunteers working to free people still trapped under rubble. The mayor of Chacao Municipality reported that rescue teams could still hear survivors calling out from beneath collapsed structures, with at least 23 people pulled out alive so far.
International aid pledges have begun arriving. The United States said it stood “ready, willing, and able to help” Venezuela, while Spain has activated emergency consular lines and put its disaster response agency on standby. Humanitarian organisations already operating in the country, including International Medical Corps, have mobilised teams to support local emergency services.
Seismologists have warned that the scale of destruction could still climb. Lucy Jones, a seismologist at Caltech, described the combination of a very large earthquake hitting a densely populated area as one of the most damaging scenarios possible. Venezuela has declared a state of emergency as authorities continue to assess structural damage to housing, infrastructure and an already strained healthcare system.
