By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Venezuela is facing one of the deadliest natural disasters in its modern history after two powerful earthquakes struck near the capital, Caracas, leaving widespread destruction, hundreds confirmed dead, and thousands more feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The twin earthquakes hit within seconds of each other on Wednesday afternoon, sending shockwaves across much of the country. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first quake measured 7.2 in magnitude and was centered about 160 kilometers west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, an even stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor rattled the region, causing catastrophic damage and triggering powerful aftershocks throughout the night.
As dawn broke on Thursday, rescue workers, emergency responders, and volunteers were still digging through mountains of rubble in a desperate race against time. Families gathered near collapsed buildings, desperately searching for loved ones while hoping for signs of life from beneath the wreckage.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced that at least 164 people had been confirmed dead and nearly 1,000 injured. However, officials warned that the final death toll could be far higher as rescue teams continue to reach devastated neighborhoods and isolated communities.
The situation appears especially grim in La Guaira state, located just north of Caracas and home to the country’s main international airport. Entire buildings crumbled, roads cracked apart, and critical infrastructure suffered severe damage. Videos shared by residents showed ceilings collapsing inside airport terminals, vehicles crushed by debris, and frightened crowds running for safety as the ground shook violently.
Speaking during a late-night address, Rodriguez described the disaster as a national tragedy.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are carrying out intensive rescue operations to save as many lives as possible,” she said. “La Guaira has become a disaster zone.”
Many of the most heartbreaking scenes emerged from residential areas where families were inside their homes when the earthquakes struck. Survivors described moments of chaos and terror as walls collapsed and power outages plunged neighborhoods into darkness.
“When we got downstairs, it looked like a horror movie,” said Maria Alejandra, a resident of Caracas who witnessed an apartment building collapse. “There was rubble everywhere. People were screaming. We saw only one family make it out.”
The scale of the disaster has raised fears that the official casualty figures may rise dramatically in the coming days. Using predictive disaster models, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that fatalities could reach into the thousands, with a significant possibility that the death toll may exceed 10,000.
Adding to those concerns, an online missing-persons registry established by opposition groups reported more than 10,000 individuals unaccounted for by Thursday morning. While not all missing persons are expected to be casualties, the figure highlights the enormous challenge facing emergency services.
Near the earthquake’s epicenter in the coastal town of Morón, residents faced another crisis as water and electricity services were knocked out. Local officials reported multiple fatalities, including several children, while emergency crews struggled to access damaged areas.
Across Caracas, scenes of panic unfolded as residents rushed into the streets during the shaking. Many people recalled hearing buildings creak and crack before pieces of concrete began falling from structures already weakened by years of inadequate maintenance and economic hardship.
“As soon as the shaking started, people began screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a publicist from western Caracas. “Everyone was running down staircases trying to get out.”
For some older residents, the disaster revived memories of previous deadly earthquakes. Eighty-year-old Maria Romero compared the destruction to the devastating 1967 earthquake that killed hundreds in the Venezuelan capital.
“This was even worse,” she said after being helped from her home by police officers.
The international community has begun mobilizing assistance. Rodriguez thanked world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, for offering support. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that American search-and-rescue teams would be deployed and that Pentagon resources would assist operations at the heavily damaged airport.
The United Nations also urged Venezuelan authorities to ease restrictions on communications and social media platforms, warning that access to information during rescue operations could mean the difference between life and death.
Hospitals across the capital were overwhelmed with injured residents. Medical workers extended shifts and converted additional spaces into treatment areas as ambulances continued arriving through the night. Schools were closed indefinitely, while the Caracas Stock Exchange suspended operations and offered facilities to support emergency response efforts.
Despite the devastation, key oil infrastructure appeared to avoid major damage. Energy companies operating in Venezuela, including Chevron and Shell, reported that their employees were safe and that operations were continuing, although assessments of facilities near affected areas remain ongoing.
Venezuela sits along a seismically active boundary where the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates meet, making earthquakes a recurring threat. However, experts say the combination of two powerful quakes striking almost simultaneously, coupled with aging infrastructure and dense urban populations, created conditions for an unprecedented disaster.
As rescue teams continue searching through collapsed homes, apartment towers, and public buildings, hopes remain that more survivors will be found. Yet with thousands still missing and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, Venezuela now faces a humanitarian crisis that could leave lasting scars on the nation for years to come.
Source Reuters
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