CARACAS — Venezuela declared a nationwide state of emergency on Wednesday after two powerful earthquakes struck the country’s north-central region, causing widespread damage, disrupting transportation networks and prompting large-scale rescue operations, officials said.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the emergency measure in a televised address late Wednesday after the twin earthquakes and numerous aftershocks shook Caracas and other parts of the country. Rodríguez said emergency services, health authorities and civil protection agencies had been mobilized nationwide in response to the disaster. According to government officials, casualties were reported, although authorities initially did not provide a comprehensive toll.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck first, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 quake in the same region. The earthquakes were among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century, according to reports citing seismic data and historical records.
Buildings collapsed in Caracas and other cities, while roads, utilities and public transportation systems sustained damage. Authorities closed Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas after inspectors identified structural damage. Several flights were canceled or diverted as officials assessed airport facilities.
“We are declaring a state of emergency as provided for in our Constitution,” Rodríguez said during her address, according to state media reports. She also expressed condolences to families affected by the disaster and said medical networks had been activated to assist the injured.
Government officials said dozens of aftershocks were recorded following the main earthquakes, increasing concerns about further structural failures. Emergency crews searched collapsed buildings through the night, while hospitals treated injured residents in several affected regions. Details on the full extent of the damage remained unclear as assessments continued.
International offers of assistance began arriving on Thursday. Several governments in Latin America and beyond expressed solidarity with Venezuela and offered humanitarian support, rescue teams and emergency supplies, according to official statements.
As of Thursday, rescue and recovery operations remained underway. Authorities urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks and to avoid damaged structures while engineers and emergency personnel continued inspections across the affected areas. Officials said casualty figures and damage estimates could change as information from impacted communities is verified.
