Twin earthquakes kill at least 32, injure more than 700 in Venezuela

Two powerful earthquakes struck western Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700, according to interim president Delcy Rodriguez. The quakes collapsed buildings in the capital, Caracas, and forced the closure of the country's main airport.

Interim President Rodriguez announced the death and injury tolls in an address to the nation on Thursday, saying she had received reports of 32 deaths and more than 700 injured. She added that she did not yet have data on the hardest-hit region of La Guaira, located near the capital.

The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, hit about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS initially estimated that the death toll would most likely range from 10,000 to 100,000, warning that "high casualties and extensive damage are probable, and the disaster is likely widespread."

A state of emergency was declared by Venezuela's interim leader, and the country's main airport was closed as a result of the earthquakes. Local officials and witnesses reported collapsed buildings, rescues, and a growing number of injured.

Coverage comparison

Dawn, a Pakistani English-language daily, reported the earthquakes as a devastating humanitarian crisis, highlighting the state of emergency and the closure of the main airport. Its coverage included historical context about earthquakes in Venezuela, noting that the country lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate, and that an estimated 30,000 people were killed in a powerful quake in 1812 in the cities of Merida and Caracas.

The Jerusalem Post reported on the destruction and rescue efforts, focusing on collapsed buildings and trapped people. Both outlets sourced official statements and witness accounts, and both cited the USGS for the earthquake magnitudes and the initial casualty estimate.

The two outlets agreed on the core facts: the magnitudes of the earthquakes, their location west of Caracas, and the general destruction. The death and injury figures were conveyed by Dawn, which quoted Interim President Rodriguez directly.

Key claims

  • Magnitudes and location: Two earthquakes with magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck about 160 km west of Caracas, according to the USGS, as reported by both Dawn and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Casualties: At least 32 people were killed and more than 700 injured, according to Interim President Rodriguez, as reported by Dawn.
  • State of emergency and airport closure: A state of emergency was declared and the main airport was closed, as reported by Dawn.
  • Building collapses and rescues: Buildings collapsed in Caracas, people were trapped in the rubble, and rescue efforts were underway, as reported by both Dawn and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Seismic context: Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate, and a powerful quake in 1812 killed an estimated 30,000 people in Merida and Caracas, as reported by Dawn.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television: "We have buildings, homes, and houses which have collapsed, and we are taking care of things with everything we have available in terms of security, civil assistance. The fire department, police, and all have been activated."

In Chacao, an eastern Caracas municipality, Mayor Gustavo Duque told broadcaster Globovision that two structures had collapsed, 16 people were injured, and there were deaths, though he gave no figure for fatalities. "We're going to do everything we can to rescue the most people possible," he said.

Video footage showed emergency workers climbing through the ruins of a collapsed building in the capital as night fell, while distraught relatives sought help for loved ones believed to be trapped.

The USGS said the 7.5-magnitude earthquake was the strongest in the country in more than a century. The last time Venezuela was hit by a more powerful tremor was on October 29, 1900, when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit offshore, causing extensive damage to churches, public buildings, and homes in the city.

Many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes struck during a public holiday marking an 1821 military victory. The earthquakes also prompted international condolences, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan saying he was "deeply saddened by the devastation and loss of life" caused by the quakes, and offering sympathy on behalf of the people of Pakistan.