Powerful back-to-back earthquakes rattle Venezuela, leaving widespread destruction

A powerful series of earthquakes struck western Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, damaging buildings in the capital Caracas, trapping people under rubble and raising fears of widespread destruction across the country.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck around 160 kilometres (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 warned that the disaster could result in “high casualties and extensive damage”, estimating that the death toll could potentially range from 10,000 to 100,000.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said the government would declare a state of emergency and seek financial support from international organisations to assist recovery efforts.

“We extend our condolences to those who have unfortunately suffered the loss of a family member,” Rodriguez said in a televised address, though she did not provide a nationwide casualty figure.

Officials and residents reported collapsed structures, rescue operations and a rising number of injured people.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said several homes and buildings had collapsed, adding that emergency teams were working with all available resources to respond.

Footage from Caracas showed rescue workers searching through the remains of a collapsed building as families waited anxiously for information about missing relatives.

Chacao Mayor Gustavo Duque said multiple buildings had been damaged and 18 survivors were rescued from one structure alone. He urged residents to move to open public spaces due to the possibility of aftershocks.

In the coastal state of Falcon, Governor Victor Clark said 22 people were injured and 15 adults remained missing as rescue efforts continued.

Residents flee into streets

The earthquakes struck while many Venezuelans were at home during a public holiday marking an 1821 military victory linked to the country’s independence from Spain.

Residents across Caracas rushed outside as buildings shook violently.

“As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a resident of western Caracas, describing how people ran down stairways to escape.

Others described furniture falling, walls shaking and loud crashes inside homes.

Caracas, which experienced a deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 1967, saw widespread panic as residents evacuated buildings.

The quake struck under the leadership of Rodriguez, who has been governing Venezuela since the removal of President Nicolas Maduro in January. Her administration has sought closer cooperation with the United States and other nations on sectors including oil and mining.

The US embassy in Caracas said it was monitoring the situation and advised citizens to stay away from damaged areas.

Hospitals prepare for injured

Emergency vehicles were deployed across Caracas, where some buildings suffered serious structural damage.

At Hospital de Clinicas in the capital, medical staff were asked to extend shifts to handle possible casualties.

The country’s main airport in Maiquetia, located near the coast north of Caracas, was temporarily closed because of damage, Rodriguez said.

Authorities cancelled classes for the rest of the week as officials assessed the impact.

Venezuela’s oil infrastructure did not immediately appear to have suffered major damage, though energy companies began checking workers and facilities for possible disruptions.

Officials said prolonged power outages could affect crude production, but Venezuela’s oil ministry, state oil company PDVSA and foreign partner Chevron did not immediately comment.

Tsunami warning lifted

A tsunami threat was briefly issued for Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands following the earthquakes. Authorities also warned of possible waves affecting Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire before withdrawing the alert about an hour later.

Venezuela sits in a seismically active region where the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates meet.

A major earthquake in 1812 caused widespread destruction in Caracas and Merida, with the USGS estimating that around 30,000 people were killed.