In just 40 seconds, she was faced with a biblical catastrophe. Two consecutive magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes (and more than 20 aftershocks) leveled the country’s northern coast and turned the capital, Caracas, into a broken zone, evoking memories of the deadly 6.3-magnitude quake in 1967. Only this time, the intensity was more intense than ever.
With buildings collapsing like paper towers, hundreds of people trapped in the rubble, and early estimates from the US Geological Survey (USGS) suggesting the possibility of tens of thousands of casualties, the country has been declared a state of emergency.
“Many casualties and widespread damage are likely, and the devastation is likely to be widespread,” the USGS said, initially estimating the death toll to likely range from 10,000 to 100,000.
Rescuers battled against time in the dark at night, while frightened residents describe the moments they experienced as a “horror movie”. So far, 32 people have been confirmed dead and over 700 injured.
Additional footage of the major damage in La Guaira, Venezuela from the powerful earthquakes.
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_)
There is no threat of a tsunami
Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, confirmed the existence of victims, but did not give an exact number and declared the country in a state of emergency.
As he said he will request funds from multilateral organizations to support the restoration effort. “We express our condolences to those who have unfortunately suffered the loss of a family member,” she said in her address to the nation.
The US Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat, canceling a warning that warned of potentially dangerous waves in areas including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
tremor in Venezuela more than 7😲😲😲
— Jorge Ortiz (@jorgebucara789)
Buildings fell
Local officials and witnesses reported collapsing buildings, rescues and a growing number of injured. “We have buildings and houses that have collapsed and we are dealing with the situation with everything we have in terms of security and civil protection,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabejo told state television.
Videos showed rescuers scrambling through the rubble of a damaged building in the capital, as desperate relatives called for help for loved ones believed to be trapped.
Aerial view of the building that fell entire in Los Palos Grandes after the earthquake. 🚨
— Cristian Crespo F. 🇨🇺 (@cristiancrespoj)
Gustavo Duque, mayor of the Chacao municipality in Caracas, said several buildings collapsed and 18 survivors were pulled from just one building. He urged bystanders to seek shelter and help in public squares, as aftershocks may occur. “We will do everything we can to save as many people as possible,” he said.
Twenty-two people were injured in the coastal state of Falcon, Gov. Victor Clark said on state television, while searches continue for 15 missing people, all adults.
BBC Mundo reporter Nicole Kolster said people could be heard calling for help under the rubble of a collapsed building.
APARTMENT BUILDING ABOUT TO FALL AND LEAVE PEOPLE TRAPPED IN VENEZUELA
— Trend in X TODAY (@TendenciaenXHoy)
Transportation was interrupted
Acting President Delsy Rodriguez told Venezuelans in a televised address that train and subway services would be suspended for the time being.
He also said that classes would be suspended for the rest of the week.
Maiketia International Airport, which is on the outskirts of Caracas, has also been closed after parts of the roof collapsed.
They gave me this video of the Maiquetia Airport. my God…
— Said Rahal (@srahalh)
“It was horrible”
Manuel Guevara Barro, a resident of the Los Palos Grandes area, describes to CNN what happened. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I experienced the earthquake in Caracas in 1967, which was an earthquake that also had many victims, but it had nothing to do with this earthquake that we experienced today,” he said.
Guevara Barro, who lives on the 9th floor, said he was reading a book when the quakes struck. The space around him vibrated so strongly and intensely that he could not be caught anywhere. “I couldn’t even walk because of the intensity of the traffic,” he said, also noting that the quakes appeared to last a very long time.
As soon as he felt that the situation had calmed down he tried to escape by the stairs of the building. The corridors were dark as the electricity had been cut, and water was running from broken plumbing. “People were crying. People were having nervous breakdowns. It was really horrible, scary,” he said.
Venezuela looks like it was BOMBED after two MASSIVE 7.1 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes.
Pray for the people, this is really bad
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani)
What worries the experts
With earthquakes of this magnitude, the most immediate and visible threat is the collapse of buildings and infrastructure. However, the danger does not stop there.
Dr. Lucy Jones, a seismologist at Caltech, warns that in densely populated areas, strong shaking could cause widespread fires due to ruptured natural gas pipelines or severe damage to electrical grids.
Even more ominously, at the same time, broken water mains may leave firefighters without the necessary means to bring the fires under control.
These knock-on effects can dramatically inflate the scale of the disaster, with wildfires often doubling the economic losses of a major earthquake.
This is how the Earthquake was seen in Caracas VENEZUELA, The pastor is rumored that the tremors will continue so everyone stay in a safe place and protect their families, GOD IS IN CONTROL 😖🙏🏽
— BAEZ👑 (@Baeztvshow)
Why access to information is difficult in Venezuela
Venezuela has one of the most limited information landscapes in the world, making it difficult for residents or relatives abroad to get information about earthquake damage or casualties. The country ranks 159th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ Global Press Freedom Index.
Under former president Nicolas Maduro, journalists were routinely harassed, beaten and imprisoned for their work. Although many political prisoners, including journalists, have been freed since Delci Rodríguez took power after Maduro’s US arrest, widespread censorship persists.
More than 200 websites have been blocked in Venezuela, 65 of which belong to the media, according to a March update by VE Sin Filtro, a Venezuelan group that monitors internet freedom. The blackout affects local and international news networks, social media platforms including X, Reddit and Signal, as well as censorship bypass tools such as VPNs, according to VE Sin Filtro.
🚨10:01 PM, search and rescue efforts in the STJ building in El Paraíso have intensified with the arrival of a specialized canine (4 more will come), in an effort to locate the 12 people that Civil Protection confirms to me that they still remain under the rubble,…
— Cristian Crespo F. 🇨🇺 (@cristiancrespoj)
Latin America is on Venezuela’s side
A wave of solidarity and condolences has begun to arrive from Latin American governments following the powerful twin earthquakes.
Its President El SalvadorNaguib Bukele, said in a statement to X: “Our hearts go out to the Venezuelan people during these difficult times. We send them our full solidarity and prayers.”
His Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico told X that it “expresses all its solidarity with the people of Venezuela and is deeply sorry for the damage and impact caused.”
Her government Brazil expressed its “solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela and wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Her Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bolivia sent his “support to the brotherly people of Venezuela” in a post on X. Bolivia expressed “its most sincere wishes for the speedy recovery of those affected, as well as the restoration of the areas affected by this disaster.”
OR Costa Rica said she “embraces the Venezuelan people with all her heart” in a post on X from the office of President Laura Fernandez. “Our solidarity is with every affected family and with those working today to save lives and rebuild hope.”
Her government Chile expressed her solidarity with Venezuela and her “willingness to provide humanitarian and rescue assistance” in a post on X.
Earthquake in Venezuela. Maiquetia airport severely affected. Catia La Mar also presents multiple collapsed buildings and houses
— Katherine Hernandez (@kathernandez)
