CARACAS — At least 164 people were killed and 971 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, authorities said on Thursday, as rescue teams continued searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings and damaged infrastructure. The casualty figures were reported by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who said the toll could rise as emergency crews reached affected areas.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed less than a minute later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake. The epicenters were located west of Caracas near the Caribbean coast. The earthquakes were felt across much of the country and in neighboring regions.
Authorities said some of the heaviest damage occurred in Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira, where residential and commercial buildings collapsed and transportation services were disrupted. Emergency workers worked through the night in search-and-rescue operations, while hospitals treated hundreds of injured residents.
Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and said the government had mobilized national resources to support rescue and recovery efforts. “All available emergency services are working in the affected areas,” she said, according to official statements reported by multiple media outlets.
Officials reported dozens of aftershocks following the initial earthquakes. Damage assessments were continuing, and authorities urged residents to avoid unstable structures. Some transportation networks, including metro and rail services, were suspended while engineers inspected infrastructure for structural damage.
International assistance began to emerge on Thursday. U.S. officials said a disaster assistance team had been mobilized to help coordinate relief efforts, while several other countries offered humanitarian and rescue support.
The USGS issued its highest-level alert for the event, indicating a high likelihood of significant casualties and economic losses. However, officials cautioned that damage estimates remained preliminary and that assessments were ongoing.
As of Thursday, rescue operations remained underway in multiple locations, with authorities continuing to search damaged buildings and verify reports from affected communities. Officials said the number of dead and injured remained subject to revision as additional information became available.
