Hundreds of people remained trapped beneath collapsed buildings in Venezuela on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck near the capital, Caracas. Many others were still missing as emergency teams continued searching through the rubble.
The disaster reportedly killed hundreds of people, damaged hospitals and homes, and forced thousands of residents onto the streets.
Two Major Earthquakes Strike Venezuela
The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, struck on Wednesday evening around 160 kilometres west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, a stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit the region.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the second tremor was Venezuela’s strongest earthquake since 1900.
Several aftershocks followed the initial earthquakes. These further disrupted rescue operations across Caracas and nearby coastal areas.
The disaster struck Venezuela after years of economic instability had already weakened much of the country’s infrastructure. As a result, emergency services faced major difficulties reaching damaged communities.
Hundreds Reported Dead
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said late Thursday that medical centres had received approximately 235 bodies. However, he did not provide a complete national death toll.
Jorge Rodriguez, the head of Venezuela’s National Assembly and the brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, earlier said that around 200 people were trapped beneath the rubble.
He added that approximately 250 buildings had either collapsed or suffered serious damage.
At least eight hospitals were reportedly damaged. The headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross and the French Embassy were also among the affected buildings.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said around 70,000 families in La Guaira state had been affected by the earthquakes.
La Guaira Declared a Disaster Zone
La Guaira, the coastal state next to Caracas, was among the areas hit hardest. The region is also home to Venezuela’s main international airport.
“It has become a disaster zone,” acting President Rodriguez said.
She added that the government was cooperating with private companies to bring heavy machinery into the region and accelerate rescue operations.
Electricity remained unavailable in parts of La Guaira. Meanwhile, Caracas’ main airport closed after suffering significant damage.
Videos recorded inside the terminal showed passengers running in panic as ceiling panels fell around them.
Rescue Teams Search Through the Night
Emergency workers and volunteers searched collapsed buildings throughout the night. However, some residents complained that official assistance had been slow to arrive.
La Guaira resident Yamileth Jimenez said her 19-year-old son remained trapped beneath the remains of their seven-storey apartment building.
“He’s under the slabs and there’s no machinery to get him out,” Jimenez said. Her father had died only three days before the earthquakes.
In La Guaira city, volunteers used their bare hands to search through damaged buildings. Families gathered nearby as they waited for information about missing relatives.
Large numbers of civilians also travelled along the Caracas-La Guaira highway carrying water, food and medicine. Their efforts became increasingly important as the scale of the disaster overwhelmed the initial emergency response.
Pedro Perez, a 64-year-old upholstery workshop owner, said he had lost both his home and his business.
“We lost everything. We have no food or medicine,” Perez said. He was sleeping outdoors with his wife and children while waiting for help.
Residents Flee Shaking Buildings
Many Venezuelans were at home because the earthquakes struck during a public holiday.
Residents rushed into the streets as buildings shook violently across Caracas and neighbouring coastal communities. Some structures swayed, while others collapsed completely.
“When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie,” said Maria Alejandra, a Caracas resident.
Moron, a seaside town in Carabobo state near the epicentre, also suffered widespread damage. Homes collapsed, while residents lost access to water and electricity.
Around 200 families living in a damaged residential complex attempted to recover mattresses, televisions, washing machines and other belongings.
Some planned to stay with relatives. Others were waiting for the government to provide temporary shelters.
Five-Year-Old Helps Family Escape
Moron resident Denis Sequera described how her five-year-old granddaughter helped her 79-year-old great-grandfather escape.
The child told him to leave the building and protect his head before guiding him into the yard. At the same time, Sequera helped her 70-year-old mother reach safety.
The family could not return to the damaged property. They spent the night outside and waited for emergency assistance.
Thousands Remain Unaccounted For
The U.S. Geological Survey’s predictive model indicated that the death toll could rise into the thousands. It also showed a significant possibility that fatalities could exceed 10,000.
A website created to track missing residents listed more than 46,000 people as unaccounted for shortly after 7 p.m. local reporting time.
Opposition leaders shared the website, although Reuters said it could not independently confirm the reported figure.
International Community Offers Support
Countries around the world pledged assistance to Venezuela, including governments that have previously had strained relations with Caracas.
Rodriguez said international rescue teams were expected to arrive soon. She also thanked several world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington moved to ease certain sanctions by authorising transactions connected to earthquake relief that would otherwise have been restricted.
Trump said the United States was ready to assist Venezuela.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would send rescue specialists. The Pentagon was also expected to provide logistical support and help restore operations at the damaged airport.
United Nations Coordinates Rescue Effort
United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said the organisation was coordinating international rescue teams.
He warned that Venezuela would require a major collective relief effort. Even before the earthquakes, around eight million people in the country reportedly required humanitarian assistance.
The United Nations’ Venezuelan human rights mission also called on the government to remove restrictions affecting some social media platforms.
The mission described access to online communication as a matter of life and death during the emergency.
Starlink Offers Free Internet Access
SpaceX’s Starlink announced that it would provide free internet service in affected areas through July 25.
The offer would apply to both new and existing customers. Starlink was also working to deploy terminals in the hardest-hit locations to help restore vital communications.
Oil Infrastructure Avoids Major Damage
Venezuela’s economically important oil industry appeared to have avoided serious disruption.
Foreign energy companies reported that their operations continued without major problems. Initial assessments also suggested that most of the country’s oil infrastructure had escaped significant earthquake damage.
Tags: Venezuela earthquakes, Caracas earthquake, La Guaira, earthquake rescue, Venezuela disaster, humanitarian crisis, natural disasters
