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Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after two massive earthquakes struck the country, causing buildings in the capital to crumble and forcing the closure of Maiquetía International Airport. The quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit the same area, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Buenos Aires Times and Dawn, both citing officials and the USGS, describe a devastating sequence of events. The first tremor struck about 160 kilometers west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a second, more powerful quake. USGS described the second event as the mainshock, preceded by the first as a foreshock. They struck at depths of 22 and 10 kilometers respectively.

Buildings collapsed in the capital, Caracas, and other areas. An AFP journalist reported a 22-story building completely destroyed in the capital's Altamira neighborhood, where volunteers climbed over rubble and people called out relatives' names. In the eastern municipality of Chacao, 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.

The disaster has prompted an extensive rescue effort. 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." He added that fire departments and police had been activated.

Key Claims

  • Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the same area of Venezuela, as reported by multiple sources.
  • Maiquetía International Airport was closed due to "serious damage" to its infrastructure, according to Delcy Rodríguez, as reported by Buenos Aires Times and Dawn.
  • A state of emergency was declared by interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, reported by both outlets.
  • Regarding aftershocks, reports vary: one Dawn article quotes Rodríguez saying 20 aftershocks had followed the two strongest quakes, while another Dawn article cites her saying around 30 aftershocks had been recorded. Buenos Aires Times also mentioned 20 aftershocks.
  • The death toll had risen to at least 164, with 971 people injured, according to Delcy Rodríguez, as reported by Dawn on Thursday.
  • The USGS initially estimated that "high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread," with a most likely death toll range of 10,000 to 100,000, as reported by Dawn articles and Buenos Aires Times.
  • US President Donald Trump said the earthquakes had "left a devastating number of deaths," as reported by Dawn.
  • Rescue workers were seen climbing through ruins of collapsed buildings in the capital, and residents rushed into the streets, as noted by witnesses and journalists.
The earthquakes struck during a public holiday marking an 1821 military victory, which may have contributed to many people being at home. The quakes triggered panic and drove people into the streets, as journalists observed. The strongest quake was the most powerful since 1900, when a 7.7-magnitude quake hit offshore, according to the USGS.

As rescue operations continue, authorities are assessing the full scale of the disaster. Interior Minister Cabello asked people to leave their homes and noted that gas supplies had been cut to several buildings as a precaution. "We have some damaged structures and we don't want any kind of accident involving gas to occur," he said.