Deadly Earthquakes Strike Northern Venezuela
Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday as rescue teams rushed to northern areas rocked by two powerful earthquakes that officials say killed at least 188 people and left more than 200 trapped. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes struck Wednesday evening, among the strongest in Venezuela in over a century, and were felt across the region. Approximately 1,500 people were injured, thousands were reported missing, and buildings were evacuated as far away as Brazil’s Amazon.
La Guaira Suffers Heaviest Damage
The coastal region of La Guaira, north of Caracas, experienced the most severe damage and casualties, officials said. The country’s main airport there was damaged and closed, complicating aid efforts. In cities across northern Venezuela, panicked residents poured into the streets, walking among debris searching for the missing. Injured children, animals, and civilians covered in dust and blood were pulled from concrete rubble. Some families sobbed in grief in front of destroyed homes.
In La Guaira, retired schoolteacher Juan Alberto Mendaño climbed through wreckage past a dead body when he spotted a woman trapped and signaling with her hand for help. “God, let them rescue her as quickly as possible,” said Mendaño. “When we heard the scream, there was nothing we could do.” At another damaged apartment complex, residents shouted the names of missing people: “Mirna! Marquitos!”
International Aid Pours In
Offers of help came from around the world, including from the United States, which seized former President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year in a surprise military operation. The natural disaster is the latest challenge for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office in January after Maduro’s capture. Venezuela has faced economic disarray for over a decade, and many reject the legitimacy of Rodríguez’s political movement.
Rescue Teams Head to Coastal Region
Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly and brother of the acting president, gave updated figures Thursday for the dead, trapped, and injured. Delcy Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, which she described as a “disaster zone.” “Dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.
La Guaira is no stranger to natural disasters—a 1999 mudslide there killed thousands and took years to rebuild. Rodríguez appealed to businesses to provide heavy construction equipment for rescue operations, adding that search and rescue teams certified by the United Nations were on their way.
Seismic Details and Aftershock Warnings
The U.S. Geological Survey said the first earthquake, magnitude 7.2, struck west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometers (14 miles). A minute later, a second 7.5 magnitude quake hit with a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) and an epicenter 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Moron. Officials urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could cause further damage.
Residents Reel From Devastation
During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings. Thursday morning, many were stunned to see buildings reduced to skeletons, furniture hanging out of windows, and helicopters circling overhead. In La Guaira, Cristian Carreño stared at his charred apartment building tilting precariously. “I lost everything,” he said. “There are people still inside, I imagine, that couldn’t get out. It’s incredibly devastating.”
Dayana Delgado, mother of three, said she was desperate because her 8-year-old son was missing. She asked where the heavy machinery was that officials promised, noting neighbors were digging through rubble. “I want to know where my child is, if he’s trapped or in a shelter,” she said.
Authorities warned against returning to homes with structural damage. In downtown Caracas, hundreds spent the night huddled in parks and open spaces. “We were afraid the buildings would collapse on us,” said María Cristina Díaz, a 41-year-old janitor. “My mother, my daughter and I were cold. We didn’t sleep a wink. It was awful. We cried, we screamed. Thankfully, we’re alive.”
Infrastructure and Social Media Impact
Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone service, Rodríguez said. Subway services were suspended, natural gas was shut off, and classes were canceled for several days. Some school buildings will be used as shelters and donation centers. Families posted missing-person flyers with photos, while others shared handwritten lists. Venezuelans abroad struggled to contact relatives.
Shortly after U.N. officials in Venezuela called on the government to lift social media restrictions, Venezuelans regained access to X, which had been blocked by Maduro since August 2024 to suppress information exchange among those who rejected his claim of victory in the July presidential elections.
Governments Offer Assistance
Rodríguez declared a state of emergency late Wednesday and announced a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes. Countries from Qatar to Mexico began sending aid. International search-and-rescue teams are expected to arrive “in the coming hours,” the United Nations spokesman said Thursday afternoon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke with Rodríguez after the quake, said the U.S. is “immediately” deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and other assistance, though the closure of the main airport creates logistical challenges.
