Major Earthquakes Shake Northern Venezuela, Triggering State of Emergency

Two powerful earthquakes struck in rapid succession near Venezuela’s Caribbean coast on Wednesday evening, delivering one of the strongest seismic events the country has experienced in over a century and causing significant destruction across multiple states.

A magnitude 7.2 foreshock hit first, followed just 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, creating a rare seismic doublet that amplified the impact. The quakes originated in Veroes municipality, Yaracuy state, west of Caracas, with the mainshock occurring at a relatively shallow depth of around 10 kilometres. Violent shaking was felt as far away as Brazil’s Amazon region and several Caribbean islands.

The tremors caused major structural collapses in several areas, particularly in La Guaira north of Caracas, where Simón Bolívar International Airport (Maiquetía) was closed for safety assessments. In the capital, neighbourhoods such as Altamira, Los Palos Grandes, and Chacao reported collapsed buildings, with residents fleeing into the streets amid clouds of dust and debris. Damage was also reported in Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, Trujillo, and Falcón states.

Casualty figures remain preliminary and unconfirmed at the national level due to disrupted communications. Local reports indicate dozens of injuries, people trapped under rubble, and an unknown number of fatalities. In Falcón state alone, at least 32 people were hospitalised, with others still unaccounted for. Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency teams working amid challenging conditions, including reports of collapsed homes and infrastructure.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency, suspended all school activities across the country, and urged healthcare workers to report for duty. The Caracas Metro and Tuy Valleys Railway services were also suspended for safety reasons.

Residents in damaged areas have been advised to stay outdoors where buildings are compromised.The earthquakes occurred along the complex boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. Venezuela’s vulnerability to such events has been known for years, but years of economic difficulties have raised concerns about building standards and overall preparedness in the country.

International support has begun to emerge as the full extent of the damage is assessed, while rescue and recovery efforts continue as authorities work to restore essential services.