At least 32 Dead, Over 700 Injured After Devastating Twin Earthquakes Hit Venezuela

According to Ireporter Online, the seismic events, which measured magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit on Wednesday with the first tremor occurring near Moron, west of the capital Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a stronger quake that intensified the destruction across affected regions.

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, confirmed the casualty figures early Thursday, noting that emergency teams were still receiving reports from several hard-hit areas, including La Guaira, near the capital. She stated that rescue operations were ongoing as officials worked to account for victims trapped beneath collapsed structures.

The disaster triggered widespread panic in Caracas, where residents fled homes, offices, and commercial centres as buildings shook violently. In the Altamira district, a 22-storey building reportedly collapsed completely, with rescue volunteers and residents searching through debris for survivors amid desperate calls for missing relatives.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and destruction. A bank worker, Odalis Escalona, said the quake caused structural failure inside her building, noting that walls cracked, stairs detached, and objects fell from ceilings. Similarly, a shopkeeper, Heidi Romero, recounted being trapped on the top floor of a shopping centre before escaping through emergency stairs after what she described as an “unbelievable” experience.

Authorities confirmed that at least 20 aftershocks followed the initial twin earthquakes, further complicating rescue efforts. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged residents to evacuate unsafe structures and announced that gas supplies had been shut off in several buildings to prevent secondary explosions, identifying Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda, and La Guaira as among the worst-affected states.

The country’s main international gateway, Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, was also closed after sustaining significant infrastructural damage. Officials warned residents to remain vigilant as emergency teams continued search-and-rescue operations across affected zones.

The impact of the quake was felt beyond Venezuela’s borders, with tremors reaching Bogotá, Colombia, where alarm systems were activated and buildings were evacuated. Colombian seismological authorities reported receiving more than 200 accounts of shaking, while also cautioning that aftershocks could continue across the region. However, disaster agencies in both Colombia and the United States confirmed there was no tsunami threat following the seismic activity.

International reaction followed swiftly, with United States President Donald Trump stating that Washington stood ready to provide assistance, describing the disaster as “massive in scale” and confirming that US agencies had been instructed to prepare for rapid response support.

Venezuela, which has experienced deadly earthquakes in the past, is now facing one of its most severe seismic disasters in recent history, as rescue operations continue and authorities warn residents to avoid damaged and unstable structures.