At least 164 dead, 971 injured in Venezuela earthquakes

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Venezuela, June 25

At least 164 dead, 971 people injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within minutes of each other, leaving communities reeling and rescue teams racing to find survivors beneath collapsed buildings. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes hit shortly after 6pm on Wednesday, shaking large parts of the country and triggering widespread damage. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez warned that the death toll was likely to rise as emergency workers continued search and rescue operations.

Speaking in a televised address, Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and said several regions had been affected. She described the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, as a “disaster zone”, saying it had suffered the worst destruction.

“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there,” she said, adding that intensive efforts were under way to rescue people trapped under debris.

For many residents, the evening quickly turned into a nightmare as homes, offices and public buildings shook violently. Families rushed into the streets seeking safety while emergency sirens echoed across affected areas.

The earthquakes, among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century, were felt far beyond the country’s borders. Tremors were reported across parts of northern South America, including areas of Brazil’s Amazon region, more than 1,700km from Caracas.

Authorities said the quakes damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela’s main international gateway, forcing its closure. Subway services and natural gas supplies in Caracas were also suspended as officials assessed the extent of the damage.

Schools across affected regions will remain closed for several days, while some educational buildings are being converted into temporary shelters and donation centres for displaced families.

Health workers have been urged to report to hospitals to assist the growing number of injured people. Authorities have also asked residents to remain calm and report structural damage through government emergency channels.

As dawn broke on Thursday, rescue teams continued searching through the rubble, while anxious families waited for news of missing loved ones. Officials warned that the full scale of the disaster may not be known for several days.