At least 164 people have been killed and 971 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession on Wednesday, in what authorities have described as the country’s most severe seismic disaster in more than a century.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the death toll is expected to rise significantly as rescue teams continue to search through collapsed buildings and assess the full scale of destruction across affected regions.
The first earthquake, measuring 7.2 magnitude, struck near San Felipe in Yaracuy state shortly after 6:04 pm local time, according to the US Geological Survey. Just 40 seconds later, a stronger 7.5 magnitude quake hit, with its epicentre located around 23 kilometres southeast of the town of Yumare, also in Yaracuy.
Experts said the unusually close timing of the twin tremors made the event particularly destructive. The first quake is believed to have ruptured one fault segment, transferring stress to another and triggering the second, more powerful quake.
An earthquake expert noted that the 7.5 magnitude tremor was significantly more powerful than the earlier 7.2 shock, despite the small numerical difference. The second quake released roughly twice the energy of the first, leading to prolonged and intensified shaking across the region.
The impact was felt far beyond Venezuela’s borders, with residents in the Colombian capital Bogotá reporting strong tremors despite being nearly 800 miles from Caracas. Survivors described scenes of devastation, with collapsed structures and widespread panic in several cities. One resident said the aftermath “looked like a horror movie,” while others compared it to previous seismic disasters in the region.
Authorities confirmed that more than 30 aftershocks have followed the main quakes, raising fears of further damage in already weakened structures. Officials have warned that the death toll may rise sharply as emergency crews reach remote and heavily affected areas.
Rodríguez said the government is coordinating with international agencies, including the United Nations, to deploy additional rescue teams. She also announced plans to establish an initial $200 million reconstruction fund in coordination with the International Monetary Fund, alongside appeals to the private sector for heavy machinery to assist recovery efforts.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is “immediately deploying” rescue teams and humanitarian assistance at the direction of President Donald Trump, following discussions with Venezuelan authorities.
Joining the list of world leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, “Deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the severe earthquakes in Venezuela. On behalf of the people of India, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Venezuela, especially to the families who have lost their loved ones. We pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and stand in solidarity with all those affected during this difficult time. India stands ready to extend all possible assistance.”
The earthquakes have struck at a time of severe political and economic instability in Venezuela, compounding the challenges facing emergency response operations. Officials have urged citizens to remain calm and stay in structurally safe buildings as rescue and relief efforts continue.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, with widespread reports of collapsed infrastructure, disrupted communications, and overwhelmed medical facilities.
Authorities have warned that the coming days will be critical as search-and-rescue operations intensify and aftershock risks remain high across the region.
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