Venezuela declares state of emergency after powerful twin earthquakes leave dozens dead

Venezuelan authorities have declared a nationwide state of emergency following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country’s Caribbean coast within seconds of each other, leaving at least 32 people dead and more than 700 injured.

The twin tremors, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, are among the strongest seismic events recorded in Venezuela in more than a century. Emergency officials warned that the death toll could rise as search-and-rescue operations continue in heavily affected areas where damaged roads, collapsed buildings, and disrupted communications have hampered relief efforts.

According to preliminary assessments, the first earthquake struck near the coastal town of Morón, approximately 168 kilometres west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometres. Just 39 seconds later, a second and stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit the same region at a depth of 10 kilometres, intensifying the destruction across north-central Venezuela.

The earthquakes were felt across much of the country and in neighbouring nations, including Colombia and Brazil. Authorities reported extensive structural damage in Caracas, where several residential buildings partially or completely collapsed. Rescue workers were deployed to affected neighbourhoods, including Altamira and Los Palos Grandes, where families gathered anxiously as crews searched through debris for survivors.

In La Guaira State, one of the worst-hit areas, officials declared a disaster zone after significant damage to public infrastructure. Simón Bolívar International Airport was shut down indefinitely following severe structural damage to its terminal facilities. Power outages and telecommunications failures were reported across large sections of the country, while gas supplies were temporarily suspended in some urban centres as a precaution against fires and explosions.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez appealed for calm and national solidarity, directing healthcare workers to report for emergency duty and ordering the temporary closure of schools and non-essential government offices. Emergency response teams have been mobilised nationwide to support rescue and recovery efforts.

International assistance has also begun arriving. The United States, European Union, Brazil, Colombia, and Germany have pledged support, including search-and-rescue personnel, satellite mapping services, and humanitarian aid to assist affected communities.

Authorities continue to assess the full scale of the disaster as rescue operations remain underway in multiple locations across the country.