Venezuela Earthquake: State of Emergency Declared After Twin Quakes Collapse Buildings in Caracas (Watch Videos)
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a national state of emergency after two powerful, back-to-back earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening.
Venezuela: Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a national state of emergency after two powerful, back-to-back earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening. The seismic events collapsed numerous buildings in the capital city of Caracas, heavily damaged the main international airport, and triggered a massive emergency response as rescuers search through the rubble for survivors.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the disaster began at approximately 6:04 p.m. local time when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 22 kilometers near the coastal community of Morón. Just 39 seconds later, an even more powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred only 16 kilometers away at a depth of 10 kilometers. Seismologists have classified the rare phenomenon as a "seismic doublet"—two large tectonic ruptures happening in near-simultaneous succession. Powerful Earthquakes Rattle Venezuela and Japan; Structural Damage Reported.
The impacts were felt immediately across the country and as far away as northern Brazil and Colombia. In Caracas, located roughly 168 kilometers east of the epicenter, witnesses reported seeing entire walls shear off residential high-rises and thick plumes of dust rising over several heavily affected neighborhoods, including Chacao and Altamira.
Addressing the nation on state television, Acting President Rodríguez appealed for solidarity and composure. "We ask the population to remain calm and united," she stated. Rodríguez confirmed the temporary shutdown of the Caracas metro system, rail networks, and the Simón Bolívar International Airport in nearby La Guaira, which sustained severe structural damage to its roof.
While the precise number of casualties remains unverified due to localized communication disruptions, local emergency services in Caracas confirmed at least 16 initial injuries and unspecified fatalities from building failures. The USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system warned that widespread damage and high casualties are highly probable, estimating a strong likelihood that the ultimate death toll could be severe. Pulwama Earthquake: 3.5-Magnitude Tremor Shakes Jammu and Kashmir, Triggers Panic.
Twin Earthquakes Rock Venezuela
Emergency Declared After Buildings Crumble and Survivors Trapped
As a safety precaution against secondary disasters, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced that the government has authorized the targeted shutdown of direct gas supplies to prevent explosions. Residents in major urban areas have been instructed to remain outdoors or evacuate structurally compromised buildings as multiple significant aftershocks continue to shake the region.
Political figures across Venezuela have urged national unity. Opposition politician María Corina Machado expressed solidarity on social media, writing, "My prayers are with every Venezuelan household during these hours of anguish." Tsunami advisories were briefly activated for sections of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, but were later rescinded.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2026 08:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).