Twin Earthquakes Kill 32, Injure Over 700 in Venezuela as Buildings Collapse

At least 32 people have been confirmed dead and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing widespread destruction and panic across several regions of the country.

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, announced a state of emergency on Thursday following the disaster. Speaking to the nation, Rodriguez said authorities had recorded 32 fatalities so far, while rescue teams continued searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquakes measured magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 and struck within seconds of each other on Wednesday night. The powerful tremors caused severe structural damage in and around the capital city, Caracas, forcing thousands of residents to flee into the streets.

Emergency responders and volunteers spent the night combing through piles of rubble in search of survivors. In Caracas’ Altamira district, a 22-story residential building reportedly collapsed completely, leaving families desperately searching for missing relatives.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as walls cracked, ceilings collapsed, and debris rained down from buildings. Many residents rushed down emergency staircases while others remained trapped inside damaged structures.

Authorities reported that more than 20 aftershocks followed the initial earthquakes, raising concerns about further damage. Several gas lines were shut down as a precaution to prevent explosions in affected neighborhoods.

The country’s main aviation hub, Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, was temporarily closed after suffering significant infrastructure damage. Images shared online showed visible destruction to parts of the airport facility.

The earthquakes were felt far beyond Venezuela’s borders, with tremors reported in neighboring Colombia, including the capital city of Bogota. Colombian authorities received hundreds of reports from residents who experienced the shaking, though no major damage was reported there.

Seismologists stated that the second earthquake occurred approximately 39 seconds after the first, making the event a rare and powerful seismic doublet. The quakes struck at relatively shallow depths, which contributed to the severe shaking experienced on the surface.

The United States government expressed readiness to provide emergency assistance. President Donald Trump extended condolences to the victims and stated that federal agencies had been instructed to prepare support efforts if requested.

Rescue operations remain ongoing in the hardest-hit states of La Guaira, Miranda, Carabobo, and Trujillo, where officials fear the casualty count could rise as more information becomes available.