By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
At least 32 people were killed and more than 700 were injured after a pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed these casualties early Thursday, though she warned the numbers are expected to rise as rescue crews reach isolated areas. The state of La Guaira, located north of Caracas, has been declared a “disaster zone” and was excluded from the initial casualty count.
Seismic data and local impact
The United States Geological Survey reported the first earthquake hit near San Felipe at a 7.2 magnitude, with a second 7.5 magnitude tremor following just 39 seconds later near the town of Yumare. These temblors are among the strongest to strike the country in over a century. The quakes caused widespread damage, triggering a state of emergency.
In Caracas, residents faced harrowing conditions. One survivor told Reuters, “The scene was like a horror movie,” describing the desperate scramble over rubble. Another resident, Roberto Damas, recounted, “The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong. We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out.”
Infrastructure across the region suffered significantly, with Simón Bolívar International Airport forced to close due to severe damage. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged citizens to avoid damaged buildings, warning that aftershocks could cause further collapses. “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 stated. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”
Global relief and diplomatic response
The United States has moved quickly to support recovery efforts. United States President Donald Trump announced he had “instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!!” Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the immediate deployment of search and rescue teams and medical aid. Acting President Rodríguez acknowledged the U.S. support, noting that her government is in “permanent contact” with officials in Washington.
International solidarity has been swift, with China, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Qatar, and El Salvador offering assistance. Ecuador has ordered the immediate delivery of aid, and Bolivia also pledged support. Rodríguez emphasized the necessity of a unified national response, stating, “What I ask is that we act in national unity, with calm, and that we know that together we will overcome this tragedy.”
Economic and rescue challenges
The disaster strikes as Venezuela faces significant economic hardship. Before this tragedy, the country was already battling severe poverty and economic instability, with the United Nations humanitarian affairs agency reporting that nearly 8 million of the country’s 28 million people were in need of assistance as of May. Experts estimate the financial impact could range between $10 billion and $100 billion. Seismologist Lucy Jones noted the severity of the event, observing, “This is one of the really great, very difficult, very damaging earthquakes, because you combined a very large event with residences of a lot of people.”
Rescue operations are ongoing as teams work through the night to reach survivors trapped in the wreckage. In the Chacao municipality, Mayor Gustavo Duque reported that emergency workers were still hearing survivors beneath the rubble. “Thankfully we are hearing people alive and we will rescue them,” he stated.
As Venezuela grapples with this catastrophe, the country remains at a crossroads where the immediate necessity of international humanitarian aid intersects with the complexities of its long-term economic and political recovery. The scale of the destruction has prompted a rare moment of global diplomatic alignment, yet the true measure of resilience will be found in the coming days as the nation balances the urgent search for survivors with the daunting task of rebuilding its shattered infrastructure.
