Venezuela was struck by two significant earthquakes on Wednesday evening, leading to widespread panic and damage across various regions. With magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, these quakes were felt as far away as the Brazilian Amazon, approximately 1,700 kilometres from the epicentre. Residents were compelled to evacuate buildings, contributing to a chaotic scene in the streets.

According to acting President Delcy Rodríguez, multiple states incurred damage; however, no official data regarding the total number of affected structures, injuries, or fatalities has been released. The Simón Bolívar International Airport has suffered considerable damage, necessitating its closure, and classes have been suspended for several days in the wake of the disaster.

Governor of Falcón state, Victor Clark, reported that 32 individuals were admitted to hospitals following the earthquakes. Over four hours after the tremors, it was confirmed that 15 individuals remained trapped under collapsed materials.

Details of the Earthquakes

The United States Geological Survey initially reported the first earthquake at a magnitude of 7.1, which was later updated to 7.2. It struck west of Morón on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast at around 6 pm, approximately 168 kilometres from the capital, Caracas, and at a depth of 22 kilometres. A minute later, a second, stronger tremor with a magnitude of 7.5 and depth of 10 kilometres was recorded, located 16 kilometres south-west of Morón.

These tremors are among the strongest experienced in Venezuela in more than a century. In Caracas, residents rushed for safety as buildings shook and some walls collapsed, exposing inner furnishings to the streets. Dust clouds rose in neighbourhoods, and debris obstructed numerous roads. In addition, power and mobile phone service were disrupted in various parts of the capital.

In the aftermath, residents expressed their experiences of fear and chaos. One Caracas inhabitant, Hector Ricci, described the situation as progressively alarming, stating, “It started off gently and then gradually grew; in the end, we all had to leave our houses.” Another resident, Roberto Gamas, recounted the intensity of the shaking, expressing gratitude for making it outside safely as everything in his apartment fell apart.

Government Response and Public Reaction

In response to the alarming situation, Rodríguez called for calm among residents and requested that health personnel report to hospitals to assist. She expressed the importance of unity during this challenging time, while Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello highlighted that the tremors had impacted various states. He identified serious situations in Caracas’s Altamira neighbourhood, urging motorists to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

Cabello also recommended that individuals check on one another, stressing caution for vulnerable populations and calling for residents to remain outside due to potential aftershocks that could further compromise building safety.

The disruption of mobile services has added to the distress of countless families, particularly those with relatives among the over 7.7 million people who have left Venezuela during its ongoing crisis. Leaders from across the region, including opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, expressed solidarity with Venezuelans during these trying times.

The tremors and subsequent emergency response were felt not only within Venezuela but also in neighbouring countries. Buildings were evacuated in Brazilian cities such as Manaus and Belém, though reports of injuries or damage in Colombia remained non-existent. Authorities confirmed that there was no tsunami threat to the Caribbean coast of Colombia, although a tsunami alert was temporarily issued for the Virgin Islands and then lifted for Puerto Rico. Strong earthquakes are uncommon in Venezuela, despite its location near several fault lines.

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