At least 32 people were killed and 700 injured after powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela, interim president Delcy Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes caused building collapses in Caracas and forced the closure of the country’s main international airport.
Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck within 39 seconds of each other on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage in the capital.
Several multi-storey buildings collapsed, trapping people under the rubble and leaving rescuers racing to find survivors.
The US Geological Survey said there was a 44 per cent probability that fatalities could exceed 10,000.
Key Points
- At least 32 dead and 700 injured, acting president says
- Fear grips Venezuela after two massive tremors
- Venezuela declares a state of emergency
- US says it is mobilising assistance for Venezuela after earthquakes
- Interior minister urges public to exercise ‘utmost caution’
- Trump says Venezuela earthquakes have left ‘devastating number of deaths’
In Pictures: Two powerful earthquakes rock Venezuela
07:05 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Venezuela suspends metro, trains and classes nationwide
06:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Venezuela has suspended metro and train services and cancelled classes nationwide as authorities respond to the aftermath of the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes.
Acting president Delcy Rodriguez announced that public transport systems would remain out of operation until further notice, while schools will stay closed for the rest of the week.
The measures come as emergency teams assess structural damage across affected areas and rescue operations continue in neighbourhoods hit by building collapses. Venezuela's main international airport has also been closed after suffering damage.
Venezuela rocked by more than 20 aftershocks
06:28 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Venezuela has been rocked by more than 20 aftershocks since two powerful earthquakes struck the country less than a minute apart.
The aftershocks have added to fears among residents already shaken by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, with many choosing to remain outdoors rather than return to damaged buildings.
Authorities said the hardest-hit areas include the northern coastal states of La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcon, where emergency crews continue assessing damage and searching for survivors.
At least 32 have been confirmed dead and 700 injured in the massive earthquakes on Wednesday evening.
Calls grow for authorities to restore access to X, VPN services and blocked news outlets
06:28 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Activists and opposition figures are urging Venezuelan authorities to restore access to X, VPN services and blocked news outlets following the devastating earthquakes.
Exiled opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez said the restrictions are preventing Venezuelans abroad from checking on their families while those inside “don’t grasp the magnitude of what happened”.
Venezuelan activist Jorge Jraissati wrote that CONATEL, the telecoms regulator, “must lift the block on X”.
“Our people need to be informed.”
Another activist, Isabella Picon, called on officials to “unblock X, media outlets and VPNs in Venezuela immediately”.
At least 32 dead and 700 injured, acting president says
06:04 , Maroosha Muzaffar
At least 32 people have been killed and 700 injured, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said, revealing the first nationwide casualty figures from the twin earthquakes.
Rodriguez said international rescue teams were expected to arrive in Venezuela in the coming hours to support ongoing emergency operations.
She also thanked Donald Trump for offering assistance following the disaster.
The announcement came after Rodriguez declared a state of emergency in response to the powerful back-to-back earthquakes, which caused building collapses in Caracas and forced the closure of the country’s main international airport.
First confirmed casualties from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes begin to emerge
05:32 , Maroosha Muzaffar
At least four deaths have been reported following the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela, marking the first confirmed casualties from the disaster.
According to Reuters, three people were killed in Caracas’ Baruta district after two buildings collapsed, while another person died in the neighbouring Chacao district, where four buildings were completely destroyed and 22 people were taken to hospital.
In the coastal state of Falcon, officials reported 22 injuries and said 15 adults remain missing.
Authorities have not yet released a nationwide death or injury toll as rescue teams continue searching affected areas and assessing the full extent of the damage.
Maduro’s son says rescue efforts underway
05:27 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, has spoken from the site of a collapsed building in Caracas as emergency teams continue responding to the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes.
Standing in the San Bernardino district, Maduro Guerra said authorities had launched an extensive response operation following the disaster.
“We saw the interim president declare exceptional measures today due to this tragedy that we are witnessing in our country,” Nicolas Maduro Guerra was quoted as saying by CNN.
The National Assembly member said officials had received reports of four building collapses in the capital, two in San Bernardino and one each in Pinto Salinas and El Paraiso, as rescue crews work to locate and extract survivors.
“This area has very old buildings from the 50s and 60s. We have also seen collapse buildings in eastern Caracas, in the municipalities of Chacao and Baruta. We don’t have an exact number at this time, but we are out in the streets and helping people,” he said.
Maduro Guerra added that the earthquake had also caused significant damage beyond the capital, describing the states of La Guaira and Falcon as having been “very affected” by the disaster.
Trump says Venezuela earthquakes have left ‘devastating number of deaths’
05:14 , Maroosha Muzaffar
US president Donald Trump has said initial reports from Venezuela following the twin earthquakes are “not good” and that the temors have “left a devastating number of deaths”.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths.
“We will be there for our new and great friends.”
He also pledged US support for the country as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
No official casualty figures have yet been released by Venezuelan authorities, and Trump did not provide any evidence or numbers to support his claim about the death toll.
Resident says ‘all I can see are shattered objects and glass’
05:07 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Residents in Caracas describe scenes of fear and destruction after powerful earthquakes struck the Venezuelan capital, forcing many people to flee their homes.
“The natural disaster caused panic in the population. We were forced to leave our homes,” one resident told Al Jazeera.
The resident said her apartment building had suffered significant structural damage, while electricity and internet services had been cut off.
“My building, for example, suffered an important fracture. As of now, we don’t have power or internet, and all I can see are shattered objects and glass,” she added.
According to the resident, at least eight buildings in the Chacao municipality sustained major damage, while several others collapsed completely.
“We could see people on the streets, people afraid to go back to their homes or buildings,” she added.
Caracas resident recalls horrifying moment struck: ‘Roar coming from the ground’
05:01 , Maroosha Muzaffar
A Caracas resident has described the terrifying moments she experienced when the first of Venezuela's powerful earthquakes struck, saying she heard “a roar coming from the ground”.
Speaking to CNN en Español, Amparo Diaz recalled the violent shaking that rattled her apartment building. “The walls were moving, and I felt as if I were in water.”
She added: “The kitchen collapsed. The living room wall is about to fall; one more movement and it will come down.”
“At that moment I only ran out with my rosary, my phone, which I had on me, and my clothes,” she said. “Just now I went back in for a few things because I can’t live there. It’s scary and it could fall.”
Emergency crews continue searching collapsed buildings in several Caracas districts
04:53 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Emergency crews continue searching collapsed buildings in several districts of Caracas. In Chacao, Mayor Gustavo Duque Saez said at least two buildings had been completely destroyed.
“In Chacao, no one is alone, and we won't move from here until every resident is rescued.”
He was quoted as saying by the BBC: “Not only do we have two building which have collapsed but also a list of others whose structure has been compromised.”
Scientists warn that the disaster could have severe consequences. The US Geological Survey has indicated there is a significant risk of heavy casualties and widespread damage.
Officials say more than 20 aftershocks have already been recorded, complicating rescue efforts and forcing many residents to remain outdoors overnight.
Interior minister urges public to exercise ‘utmost caution’
04:48 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Venezuela’s interior minister Diosdado Cabello has called on residents to remain vigilant and take extra precautions following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country.
Speaking to local media, Cabello advised people to keep away from buildings and other potentially unsafe structures as authorities continue to assess the damage.
“Go outside, wait calmly outside, and report any situation to the agencies deployed throughout the country,” he said.
US Geological Survey says 44 per cent probability Venezuela toll could exceed 10,000
04:33 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes could be severe, according to the US Geological Survey.
The agency warned there was a 44 per cent probability that the death toll could exceed 10,000 and a significant risk of widespread destruction following the back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes.
Rescue teams remain on the ground as authorities work to determine the full scale of casualties and damage.
Venezuela declares a state of emergency
04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Venezuela has declared a state of emergency after twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude rocked the country on Wednesday evening.
Hundreds of emergency workers have been deployed to search damaged buildings, while officials have warned residents to stay away from unsafe structures.
More than 20 aftershocks have already been recorded as rescue operations continue across the hardest-hit regions.
Where did two major earthquakes strike
04:26 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast within 40 seconds of each other on Wednesday evening.
A 7.2-magnitude tremor was recorded near San Felipe before a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit close to Yumare in Yaracuy state.
Fear grips Venezuela after two massive tremors
04:19 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Fear and uncertainty gripped Venezuela after twin powerful earthquakes rattled the country, leaving cracked buildings, widespread power outages and damaged infrastructure in their wake.
Residents poured into the streets as aftershocks threatened further destruction, with many unwilling to return to their homes. The tremors were felt across Venezuela and even reached Bogota, Colombia.
The disaster struck on a national holiday, meaning many families were at home when the earthquakes hit, potentially increasing the impact on communities across the country.
US says it is mobilising assistance for Venezuela after earthquakes
04:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The United States has announced emergency assistance for Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the country, collapsing buildings and trapping people under rubble.
“Working with our partners in the interim Venezuelan government, the US will be sending search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the crucial first days after this tragic natural disaster,” US State Department official Jeremy Lewin said on X.
