On a Wednesday public holiday in Venezuela, two powerful earthquakes struck the nation’s northern coast within just 60 seconds, marking the strongest seismic event to hit the South American country in over 100 years. As of early Thursday morning, the official death toll stood at 164, with 971 people injured, and acting national leadership has warned that the final casualty count and scale of destruction will likely be far higher as rescue teams continue to reach affected areas.
The sequence of seismic activity began just after 6:04 p.m. ET, when a magnitude 7.2 foreshock hit near San Felipe, the capital of Yaracuy state. A mere 40 seconds later, a larger magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck approximately 23 kilometers southeast of Yumare, another town in the same northern state. Because the disaster struck on a national public holiday, many residents were at home or gathered at public events when the shaking started, increasing vulnerability to injury and death. Shaking from the quakes was felt across every Venezuelan state, and even reached neighboring Colombia hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.
Geolocated videos verified by CNN captured chaotic scenes across the country: terrified residents fled crumbling buildings with family members and pets, gathering in open streets to avoid falling debris. Martha Añez, a resident of the capital Caracas who was trapped in her apartment during the quake, described her harrowing experience to reporters. “We couldn’t get out; there was hammering from one side and kicking from the other. I don’t know who actually rescued us, because they were shouting, ‘Get away from there, we’re coming and we are about six!’, until they finally burst through the door,” Añez said. She added that three floors of her apartment building are completely destroyed.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed office earlier this year after U.S. forces captured sitting President Nicolás Maduro, confirmed the rising casualty numbers in a video address early Thursday. The updated toll marked a sharp increase from initial overnight counts, indicating how much damage remains unaccounted for. Rodriguez confirmed that dozens of structures have collapsed across the country, with the northern coastal state of La Guaira suffering the worst damage; the state has been formally designated a disaster zone. “We are currently engaged in arduous rescue operations to save as many lives as God allows. This is truly a tragedy,” Rodriguez said.
Verified footage confirms widespread destruction to residential and commercial infrastructure across Venezuela, including in Caracas. In the La Guaira town of Macuto, a large waterfront hotel has been completely reduced to rubble, while neighboring Catia La Mar has recorded multiple collapsed residential buildings and severe structural damage to high-rise towers. The U.S. Geological Survey issued two separate red alerts via its PAGER alert system immediately after the quakes, warning of likely high casualties and extensive damage. The agency noted that most housing and public buildings in the affected region are constructed with materials that are highly vulnerable to intense seismic shaking.
Connectivity watchdog NetBlocks reported that national internet connectivity dropped sharply after the quakes damaged power and telecommunications infrastructure across the affected northern regions.
The disaster comes at an already catastrophic moment for Venezuela, which has been grappling with years of deep political and economic instability, including prolonged hyperinflation that has crippled the national economy. In response to the quakes, Rodriguez announced a nationwide state of emergency, the formation of a high-level inter-agency task force to coordinate search and rescue, and an initial $200 million fund for reconstruction and relief efforts. Caracas’ Simon Bolivar Airport has been temporarily closed due to structural damage, and all public schools across the country will be suspended for one week. All rail services and non-essential government activities have also been temporarily halted, and interfaith nationwide prayer gatherings are scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.
Venezuela’s Ministry of Communication and Information confirmed that national security forces have been deployed across all affected regions, and utility authorities have cut direct gas supply to damaged structures as a safety precaution while structural assessments are conducted.
In a show of global solidarity, multiple countries have mobilized rescue teams and humanitarian aid to support Venezuela’s response. Rodriguez confirmed that U.S. rescue teams were expected to arrive in the country early Thursday, after former President Donald Trump publicly voiced support for the relief effort. Additional specialized rescue teams are being deployed from the Dominican Republic, France, El Salvador, Mexico, and Qatar, while China, Brazil, and multiple Caribbean nations have committed to sending critical humanitarian aid supplies. This is a developing story, and updates will be issued as more information becomes available.