Venezuela Quakes Kill 32, Injure 700 as Emergency Declared
Photo: REUTERS
Venezuela is reeling after back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck the nation on Wednesday evening, leveling buildings and triggering a state of emergency.
The tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, hit shortly after 6 pm, sending terrified residents into the streets as massive dust clouds rose over the capital, Caracas.
At least 32 people have died in the earthquake and some 700 people are injured, according to Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the first earthquake’s epicenter was located west of Morón at a depth of 22 kilometers. Just one minute later, a shallower and more violent 7.5-magnitude shock struck at a depth of only 10 kilometers, centered 16 kilometers southwest of Morón.
These represent some of the most powerful seismic events to hit the country in over a century.
Using PAGER advanced modeling, USGS initially estimated a potential death toll between 10,000 and 1,00,000 people. Vashan Wright, a geophysicist at the University of California, San Diego, explained that this system calculates expectations based on population density and building inventory.
Rodríguez swiftly declared a state of emergency, ordering the closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport due to severe structural damage. She also suspended classes, subway services, and natural gas delivery in the capital.
“We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez stated during a national address, adding, “We urge unity”. She also ordered all healthcare professionals to report to hospitals to assist the injured, while the Ministry of Education designated several schools as emergency shelters and donation centers.
The human toll remains critical. In Falcon state, Governor Víctor Clark confirmed that 32 people were hospitalized, and at least 15 others remained trapped under rubble hours after the quakes.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello highlighted “alarming situations” in the Altamira neighborhood of Caracas, where multiple homes and buildings collapsed. He urged citizens to stay outdoors to avoid potential aftershocks, advising people to “be very careful with children and the elderly.”
Witnesses described a scene of pure terror. Caracas resident Hector Ricci noted that the shaking “started off gently and then gradually grew,” forcing everyone to flee their homes. Another resident, Roberto Gamas, described the “unreal” force that tossed people around as buildings swayed “side to side”.
The widespread loss of cellphone signals and electricity has intensified the anxiety for families, particularly for the more than 7.7 million Venezuelans living in exile.
The disaster’s impact reached far beyond Venezuela's borders. Authorities evacuated buildings in the Brazilian cities of Manaus, Belem, and Macapá, roughly 1,700 kilometers away.
While residents in Colombia also felt the tremors, no damage was reported there. Moreover, US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued several alerts that were later lifted.
From exile, opposition leader María Corina Machado shared a message of support on X, stating, “May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time.”
Source: BBC, The Associated Press and Al Jazeera (adapted)
