THE NEW YORK TIMES: The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes toppled dozens of buildings, killed at least 32 people and injured at least 700 others, the authorities said. A frantic rescue effort was underway.
Huge, twinned earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, toppling many buildings and killing at least 32 people and injuring 700 others in a disaster that added to the country’s already severe political and economic turmoil.
One of the quakes was the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, and the full scale of the damage was not immediately clear early Thursday morning. President Delcy Rodríguez announced the initial toll of deaths and injuries on television but noted that it did not include the worst-hit state of La Guaira where dozens of buildings had collapsed.
In nearby Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, structures shook and fell and people fled into the streets. Neighborhoods in some areas of Caracas went dark because of power outages, while subway and train services were suspended. Some streets were flooded by burst water pipes.
Ms. Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, calling on doctors and nurses to report to their jobs. She later said that hotels and shelters were available for those whose homes were destroyed or damaged and urged the public to inform the government about people who were missing.
Video circulating widely on social media and verified by The New York Times showed scenes of fear and destruction. In La Guaira, a hotel was reduced to rubble and other structures were badly damaged and tilting precariously. At the Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, some people rushed for cover inside a shaking building.
In Caracas, rescuers combed through collapsed structures and urged onlookers to remain silent as they called out for missing people.
The first earthquake hit just after 6 p.m. Eastern time with a magnitude of 7.2, and was followed less than a minute later by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, according to U.S. monitoring agencies. The stronger quake was the largest to hit the country since 1900.
The epicenter was near San Felipe, a city of about 220,000 in the state of Yaracuy, west of Caracas. As seismologists review available data, they may revise the reported magnitudes of the earthquakes.
The earthquakes are the latest blow to a country that has experienced extraordinary upheaval in recent years. In January, U.S. forces deposed and captured Nicolás Maduro, the former Venezuelan leader who oversaw an economic collapse and efforts to consolidate authoritarian rule during his time in office.
Since then, the Trump administration has seized control over Venezuela’s oil industry, turning the country into something resembling a vassal state. Investors from the United States have been flocking to Caracas to explore potential deals, marking Venezuela’s shift away from allies like Cuba, Iran and Russia. Live Updates » | María Victoria Fermín and Simon Romero | María Victoria Fermin reported from Caracas, Venezuela, and Simon Romero reported from Mexico City. | Thursday, June 25, 2026
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