Rescue teams continued to search through the rubble of collapsed buildings across Venezuela on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck near the capital, Caracas, leaving at least 235 people dead and thousands injured.
Officials said the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within seconds of each other at 6:04 p.m. local time on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), both quakes were shallow, with depths of about 20.3 kilometres and 10 kilometres respectively, increasing the intensity of ground shaking and the extent of destruction. The second tremor was the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century.
The earthquakes caused widespread damage in Caracas, the nearby port city of La Guaira and surrounding areas. Buildings collapsed, roads were damaged and essential services were disrupted. Emergency workers, assisted by volunteers, continued to search for survivors trapped beneath the debris as cries for help were heard from several collapsed structures.
Authorities said the death toll had risen to at least 235, while more than 4,300 people were reported injured. Officials warned that the number of casualties could increase further as rescue operations continued and many people remained missing.
Thousands of residents have been displaced after their homes were destroyed or declared unsafe. Many spent the night outdoors, either because their homes had collapsed or out of fear of aftershocks. The earthquakes struck on a national holiday, when more people than usual were at home, raising concerns that the casualty count could climb further.
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, while National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said rescue and relief efforts had been intensified in the worst-affected areas.
International assistance began arriving as several countries pledged support. The United States announced an initial aid package of $150 million to support emergency relief operations. The U.S. Department of Defense said it was deploying aircraft to assess damage, transport emergency supplies and assist search-and-rescue efforts.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said elite urban search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles were being deployed, along with a Disaster Assistance Response Team to support local authorities with emergency response and recovery operations.
US President Donald Trump also expressed support for Venezuela, saying the United States stood ready to assist and had instructed government agencies to respond rapidly.
Humanitarian agencies warned that the disaster could have far-reaching consequences. UNICEF said around 3.9 million children live in areas affected by the earthquakes and many families urgently require shelter, food, clean water and medical assistance. The agency cautioned that children were particularly vulnerable in the aftermath of the disaster.
The earthquakes have compounded the challenges facing Venezuela, which has been grappling with prolonged political and economic difficulties. Authorities said search-and-rescue operations would continue around the clock as emergency crews worked to locate survivors and provide aid to thousands of displaced residents.
