CARACAS, Venezuela — A pair of powerful earthquakes rattled Venezuela within a short span Wednesday evening, leaving at least 32 people dead and 700 injured, according to the country’s acting president, as damage was reported across multiple communities in the South American nation.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez cautioned that the number of victims could climb as rescue teams dig through collapsed structures and emergency workers push into areas devastated by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, which hit shortly after 6 p.m.
In a late-Wednesday address to the nation, Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and said several states had suffered damage. Early Thursday casualty totals did not include La Guaira, which she called a “disaster zone” and identified as the worst-affected area.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Caracas, and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.
The back-to-back earthquakes ranked among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than 100 years and sent tremors across a wide region. Buildings were evacuated in several cities, with shaking felt as far away as Brazil’s Amazon region, roughly 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Caracas.
Early Thursday, Venezuela’s state broadcaster VTV aired video showing three children, dusty but alive, being rescued from debris in heavily damaged La Guaira.
Rodríguez said the earthquakes also damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas, the country’s main air hub, forcing it to close. Schools were shut, while subway and natural gas services in Caracas were suspended. She called on residents to report damage through a government app.
Country hit twice by large quakes
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported that the first quake, measured at magnitude 7.2, struck west of Morón along the Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometers (13.6 miles).
The USGS reported a 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) with an epicenter 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Morón.
In the coastal state of Falcon, Gov. Víctor Clark said 32 people were hospitalized and 15 people were trapped.
International assistance offered
Offers of help were made by various governments including Argentina, Chile, Panama and Uruguay.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said in a post on X early Thursday that the United States is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”
Rodríguez thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and said in an X post later that she spoke with Rubio by phone without sharing details. She also expressed thanks to the leaders of various nations who have sent messages of support.
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Rodríguez said Thursday that Qatar, Mexico and El Salvador had already sent rescue personnel.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, once diametrically opposed to Venezuela’s government, said in a post on X Wednesday night that he had offered aid.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said he had ordered the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to help respond to the emergency.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who less than a week ago declared a state of emergency in his country following weeks of anti-government protests, said his country stood ready to provide assistance.
‘We all had to leave our houses’
Television broadcasts showed rescue workers using power tools on collapsed structures and dozens of people spending the night in parked cars, subway stations and other public places to heed warnings to avoid damaged structures. Collapsed buildings, toppled electric poles and debris blocked streets.
During the quakes, people evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw collapsed walls that left furniture visible from the street.
“It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together,” Caracas resident Hector Ricci said.
Roberto Gama said his building in Caracas “really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong.”
Cellphone service was unavailable across parts of Venezuela, which deepened the distress of many families, particularly among the more than 7.7 million people who have left the country.
Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado, in exile after leaving Venezuela in December, sent wishes on X for “strength, serenity, and solidarity.”
Venezuela Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake could be felt in several states and asked motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said. “Be very careful with children and the elderly. Call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”
Earthquakes impact the region
Buildings in Manaus, Belem and Macapá in Brazil’s Amazon were evacuated, according to TV Globo. The earthquakes also were felt in Colombia’s Caribbean and northeast regions.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued several tsumani alerts after the earthquakes that were quickly lifted, with the center later reporting there was no tsunami threat.
Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela despite sitting near multiple fault lines at its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates.
Quakes are frequent in other countries on Latin America’s Pacific coast including Mexico and Chile, which sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, an area that the USGS said is responsible for 90% of earthquakes.
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Garcia Cano reported from Bogota, Colombia. Associated Press writers Clara Preve in Buenos Aires, Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia, Mauricio Savarese in Sao Paulo and Anna-Catherine Brigida, Megan Janetsky and India Grant in Mexico City, Cristina Fuentes in Madrid and Maria Teresa Hernandez in Beijing contributed to this report.
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