Two powerful earthquakes struck seconds apart near northern Venezuela, damaging buildings from coastal La Guaira to Caracas.
LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA — Rescue crews searched through collapsed buildings Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela seconds apart, killing at least 235 people, injuring thousands and leaving many others missing or trapped, officials said.
The disaster became Venezuela’s worst seismic emergency in generations within hours. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency as hospitals, airports, schools and emergency teams struggled to respond. Government figures changed through the day as crews reached damaged neighborhoods, while U.S. Geological Survey models warned the final toll could rise into the thousands because of the quakes’ strength, shallow depth and impact on densely populated areas.
The first major quake struck Wednesday at about 6:04 p.m. local time west of Caracas, followed 39 seconds later by a stronger shock. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the earthquakes at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, with the stronger one centered near Yumare. The shaking was felt across northern Venezuela and into neighboring countries. Rodriguez said the country was facing “a true tragedy” as rescue teams moved into Caracas, La Guaira, Carabobo and nearby areas. She said emergency crews were working to pull survivors from rubble while aftershocks continued to shake already weakened structures.
La Guaira, the coastal state that includes the main international airport serving Caracas, appeared to be among the hardest hit. Buildings collapsed in Catia La Mar and Playa Grande, and patients were moved outside at one damaged hospital. Officials reported damage at Simon Bolivar International Airport, where operations were disrupted after roof and structural damage. In Caracas, collapses and heavy cracking were reported in parts of Baruta, Chacao, Altamira and Los Palos Grandes. Authorities said more than 200 people had been reported trapped, though the number remained uncertain because communications were down in several neighborhoods.
Health officials said the number of injured had risen into the thousands by Thursday evening. Local reports said at least 250 buildings were damaged or destroyed, while thousands of families were displaced or waiting outside homes they feared were unsafe. Power cuts, broken roads and limited rescue equipment slowed the response in some areas. Volunteers joined firefighters and civil protection workers, often digging with hand tools or bare hands. Officials said aftershocks, including dozens recorded after the main quakes, made the work more dangerous and forced temporary pauses near unstable buildings.
The earthquakes struck a country already strained by years of economic crisis, damaged infrastructure and shortages across parts of the health system. Venezuela sits near the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, a zone that has produced deadly earthquakes before. Caracas suffered a destructive quake in 1967, and Cumaná was devastated by a major earthquake and tsunami in 1929. The new double shock was described by seismic experts as one of the most powerful events to hit Venezuela since modern records began, with added risk from landslides and liquefaction in coastal and low-lying areas.
Rodriguez ordered schools and nonessential public services suspended as the government assessed damage and opened emergency shelters. Rescue work was focused first on buildings where voices, phone signals or witness reports suggested people might still be alive. The government said it was coordinating medical care, temporary housing and damage inspections, but officials did not give a full list of destroyed structures. Several countries and aid groups offered help, including search teams, medical supplies and communications support. Authorities said accepting and moving that aid would depend on airport access, road conditions and security around damaged zones.
Families gathered near collapsed buildings Thursday, calling names and showing photos to rescue crews. In La Guaira, residents described a deep roar before walls split and concrete fell into streets. In Caracas, people slept in plazas, parking lots and sidewalks, afraid to return indoors. “We are still looking,” one rescue worker said at a damaged apartment block as crews listened for sounds beneath the debris. Officials said some people had been rescued alive, but they did not release a full count of survivors pulled from rubble.
The confirmed death toll stood at at least 235 late Thursday, with officials warning that the number could change as crews reached more damaged areas. Rescue operations were expected to continue through the night, with the next government update expected after damage reports from La Guaira, Caracas and Carabobo are reviewed.
Author note: Last updated Thursday, June 25, 2026.