- By Ajeet Kumar
- Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Powerful 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck Venezuela's coast.
- Buildings collapsed, causing panic; thousands feared dead by USGS.
- Government criticized for delayed response to the severe seismic event.
Venezuela Earthquake: The death toll has climbed to 164 after back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets. The death toll could climb further as the rescue operations are underway in multiple states. As per latest update, more than 970 people were injured and thousands are still missing. The region which is less prone of strong earthquakes was hit by one of the powerful earthquke in the century. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities as far away as Brazil's Amazon about 1,700 kilometres away.
Death toll could cross 1 lakh: USGS
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said there was a 44 per cent chance that the death toll could hit 10,000 and a 30 per cent chance it could go above 1,00,000. The government has announced a national emergency and shut the airport.
Passengers panic and run for cover at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as the terminal shakes and power flickers, resulting from a massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Caracas. pic.twitter.com/uWN4ZqFjOZ
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 24, 2026
Video circulating from La Guaira, Venezuela, showing the aftermath of the devastation caused by powerful earthquakes.
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Thousands of people are feared dead in the earthquakes, according to the USGS. pic.twitter.com/GRAVkYduXT
Venezuelan acting President declares national emergency
Late on Wednesday, acting president Delcy Rodriguez said she was preparing to address the nation. Rodriguez has declared a state of emergency and asked residents to stay united. In a televised address on Wednesday (local time), Rodriguez confirmed that lives had been lost in the disaster, saying she extended her condolences to those who have "sadly suffered the loss of a family member." She did not specify the number of deaths.
(Police officers and rescuers work at the site of damaged buildings in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Caracas | CREDIT: REUTERS)
Trump orders US agencies to move quickly to devastated sites
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the two earthquakes that hit Venezuela earlier in the day had "left a devastating number of deaths," without citing any official casualty figures. "The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"The USA. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good."
Caracas: Epicentre of Venezuela earthquake
The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2, and its epicentre was west of the community of Moron, located along the country's Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometres west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometres.
(Debris of a collapsed building lies after an earthquake, in La Guaira, Venezuela | CREDIT: REUTERS)
The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometres and its epicentre was 16 kilometres southwest of Moron.
The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 pm.
(People stand in a park after a strong earthquake, in Valencia | CREDIT: REUTERS)
(A woman embraces a cat while sitting on the street after a strong earthquake, in Valencia | CREDIT: REUTERS)
People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighbourhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.
Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela
While the country sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates make earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. Along the Pacific coast -- in Mexico and Chile, for example -- earthquakes are frequent. The two countries sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire," which is responsible for 90 per cent of earthquakes, according to the USGS.
(With inputs from agency)