Twin Earthquakes Kill at Least 188 in Venezuela as International Aid Pours In
The back-to-back earthquakes, which struck just 39 seconds apart, were the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900.
Rescue workers pick through the rubble of a collapsed building in Caracas in the hours after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night. (Credit: Javier Campos/AP)
A pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern coast just 39 seconds apart Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings across the capital of Caracas and the port city of La Guaira, killing at least 188 people and injuring more than 1,500 others, officials said Thursday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the first earthquake struck near the town of San Felipe, about 100 miles west of Caracas. Just 39 seconds later, a second, stronger quake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit near the town of Yumare.
The 7.5-magnitude mainshock was Venezuela's strongest earthquake in more than 125 years, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At least 157 people remain missing, and nearly 3,000 families have been affected, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said Thursday on state media.
First responders scale the remains of a collapsed building in Caracas on Wednesday as search and rescue operations stretched into Thursday across multiple Venezuelan states. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)
A Country Already in Crisis
The disaster comes as Venezuela continues to grapple with profound political and economic instability. The country has been governed by an interim administration since U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, while years of hyperinflation have left the economy severely weakened.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice president who was sworn in on Jan. 5, declared a nationwide state of emergency during a televised address Wednesday night.
"We are currently engaged in arduous rescue operations to save as many lives as God allows. This is truly a tragedy," she said.
The government also announced a $200 million reconstruction fund to help rebuild damaged hospitals and homes.
A high-rise building lies in ruins in the Chacao neighborhood of Caracas after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on the night of Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Adrian Naranjo)
Simón Bolívar International Airport sustained structural damage and was forced to close. Schools nationwide were ordered shut for one week, while rail service and other nonessential activities were suspended. Rodríguez also called for a nationwide time of prayer across all faiths at 7 p.m. local time.
Widespread Destruction
The coastal state of La Guaira sustained the heaviest damage and has been declared a disaster zone. Within Caracas, the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira neighborhoods suffered some of the capital's most extensive destruction.
According to reports, more than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira alone. A large waterfront hotel in the city of Macuto was reduced to rubble, while multiple high-rise buildings in Catia La Mar either collapsed or suffered severe structural damage.
Families posted missing-person flyers bearing photographs of loved ones, while others circulated handwritten lists of names as they searched for those still unaccounted for. Thousands of Caracas residents spent the night outdoors or slept in their vehicles, fearing the continuing aftershocks.
The U.S. Geological Survey classified Wednesday's event as a rare seismic "doublet," a phenomenon in which two earthquakes of similar magnitude occur within a short period of time, often producing greater destruction than a single quake.
A residential building in La Guaira stands partially collapsed after the twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared the coastal state a disaster zone, calling it the hardest-hit region in the country. (Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images)
USGS seismologist Paul Earle told NPR that modeling suggests the final death toll could reach into the thousands or even tens of thousands, while economic losses may climb into the billions or tens of billions of dollars. He also said there is a 40% chance of a magnitude 6.0 or greater aftershock striking the region within the next week.
International Response
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is "immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela."
"We will have a whole government response," Rubio said Thursday from Bahrain.
President Trump wrote on social media late Wednesday that he had "instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly," adding that "early reports are not good."
Colombia announced it will send humanitarian aid, more than 60 rescue personnel, and four search dogs. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuban medical teams are assisting with victim care, while Panama dispatched personnel from its National Civil Protection System.
The United Nations said it is coordinating the deployment of urban search-and-rescue teams. China, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the Vatican also announced assistance.
Rodríguez said U.S. officials have remained in constant contact with her administration since the earthquakes struck.
Search-and-rescue operations continue as emergency crews race against time to locate survivors. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as recovery efforts continue.
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