Powerful Earthquakes Strike Venezuela, Hundreds Feared Dead and Injured
7 verified6 unconfirmed3 contested
Two major earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within a minute on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction and casualties. The first quake registered a magnitude of 7.2, followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5 magnitude tremor, making the pair among the strongest to hit the country in over a century. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and shifted rescue teams to the hardest-hit areas, particularly La Guaira state, where numerous buildings collapsed. Death tolls vary between at least 164 and 188, with injury counts ranging from nearly 1,000 to more than 1,500. The main international airport in Caracas was damaged and closed, complicating aid efforts. Several countries, including the United States, have offered search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance. Rescue workers continued pulling survivors from rubble, with footage showing three children rescued in La Guaira.
What’s verified
Two earthquakes struck Venezuela seconds apart on Wednesday evening: a magnitude 7.2 and a magnitude 7.5.
The quakes are among the strongest to hit the country in more than a century.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency.
At least 164 people were killed and nearly 1,000 injured, according to Rodríguez's early statement.
The main international airport in Caracas sustained heavy damage and was closed.
The United States said it is deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance.
Three children were pulled alive from rubble in La Guaira state, as shown on state television.
Where accounts differ
Death toll: sources report either at least 164 (according to acting President Rodríguez) or 188 (according to the president of the National Assembly).
Injury count: sources report either nearly 1,000 injured (971) or more than 1,520 injured.
Epicenter location: one source places the first quake near the town of San Felipe / Yumare, while another places it near the town of Moron.
Not yet confirmed
Whether the Moron Petrochemical Complex sustained significant damage and has fully restarted, reported by one source.
The exact number of missing persons: one source mentions more than 10,000 reported missing on a website, while other sources refer to families posting fliers.
Specific offers of aid from individual countries such as Germany (six A400M aircraft), France (85 rescue specialists), Spain (54 army rescuers), and El Salvador (300 personnel) appear only in single sources.
A $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals and homes was announced by acting President Rodríguez, mentioned in one source.
The United Nations human rights mission urged Venezuela to lift restrictions on social media to aid communication; mentioned in one source.
The role of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello in urging residents to stay outside due to aftershocks is only noted in one source.
Key figures
Delcy Rodríguez – Acting President of Venezuela
Jorge Rodríguez – President of the National Assembly of Venezuela
Donald Trump – President of the United States
Marco Rubio – U.S. Secretary of State
Nayib Bukele – President of El Salvador
Tom Fletcher – UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
Diosdado Cabello – Interior Minister of Venezuela
Sources: Wired, NBC News, dw.com, csmonitor.com
