CARACAS, Venezuela, June 25 — Rescue teams continued searching through collapsed buildings in Venezuela on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck the country within seconds of each other, killing at least 164 people and injuring nearly 1,000 others.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction in the capital Caracas and surrounding regions.
Authorities fear the death toll could rise as emergency crews work to reach people trapped beneath rubble.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency and said the coastal region of La Guaira had suffered the most severe damage. Several residential and commercial buildings collapsed, including a multi-storey hotel that was reduced to rubble.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the first earthquake struck at a depth of about 20 kilometres, followed moments later by a stronger quake occurring just 10 kilometres below the surface. The shallow depth intensified the impact, causing extensive structural damage across a broad area.
Emergency responders have been deployed to affected communities in Caracas, La Guaira, and several other states, including Aragua, Miranda, Carabobo, Yaracuy and Trujillo.
Officials said people trapped under collapsed structures were still being located as rescue operations entered a critical phase.
Authorities also confirmed that Venezuela’s main international airport in Maiquetía sustained significant damage and has been temporarily closed. Videos shared online showed debris falling from ceilings inside the terminal during the tremors.
Residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook violently. Many rushed into the streets while power outages and communication disruptions affected large parts of the country.
Seismologists noted that Venezuela sits along the boundary of two tectonic plates, making it vulnerable to earthquakes generated by the sudden release of pressure between them.
More than 30 aftershocks have already been recorded since the main quakes.
The USGS warned that casualties could increase significantly, citing the strength of the earthquakes, population density in affected areas and the extent of structural damage.
However, officials emphasized that such projections are intended to guide emergency planning and are not definitive forecasts.
The disaster marks the strongest earthquake to hit Venezuela in more than a century and the most powerful to affect Caracas since a deadly 1967 earthquake that claimed about 200 lives.
Messages of support have poured in from across the region and beyond. Countries including the United States, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Qatar have pledged assistance for rescue and humanitarian efforts.
US President Donald Trump said his administration was preparing to provide emergency aid, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the deployment of search-and-rescue teams, medical supplies and humanitarian support.
The tremors were felt far beyond Venezuela’s borders, with reports indicating that residents in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, also experienced the shaking, prompting precautionary evacuations in some buildin