CARACAS — Rescuers searched through collapsed buildings and debris across several Caracas neighborhoods on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela a day earlier, killing at least 164 people and injuring more than 900, according to figures released by the government. Authorities said search-and-rescue teams were continuing efforts to locate survivors trapped beneath rubble as aftershocks complicated operations.
The twin earthquakes, measured by the U.S. Geological Survey at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck within less than a minute of each other on Wednesday evening. The epicenters were near the coastal town of Morón, west of Caracas, but the capital and nearby areas suffered extensive damage, with numerous buildings reported collapsed.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and said the casualty toll was expected to rise as emergency crews gained access to damaged structures. According to government officials, some of the worst destruction occurred in Caracas and the neighboring state of La Guaira, where infrastructure, housing and public services were severely affected.
Emergency workers, police officers and volunteers worked through the night in several districts of the capital. Electricity and water disruptions were reported in some areas, while transportation services, including metro and rail operations, were suspended as authorities assessed structural damage. Simón Bolívar International Airport also faced disruptions following inspections of facilities.
Residents described scenes of destruction as families gathered outside damaged buildings amid fears of further aftershocks. “Right now we have nothing,” resident Larry Rojas told AFP while standing near a collapsed building in La Guaira where relatives were believed trapped. “Not even the strength or the courage to go in there.”
International assistance began mobilizing on Thursday. Governments including the United States, France, Spain and several Latin American countries offered rescue teams, medical support and humanitarian aid, while United Nations agencies said they were coordinating emergency assistance with Venezuelan authorities.
The earthquakes were among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in decades, according to reports citing seismic authorities. Officials continued to assess the full extent of the damage, and details remained unclear in some affected areas where communications and transportation links were disrupted.
As of Thursday evening, rescue operations remained underway in Caracas and surrounding regions, with authorities urging residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks while emergency teams continued searching for survivors.
