Caracas, Venezuela — At least 164 people have been killed and 971 injured after two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela’s Caribbean coast on Wednesday, triggering widespread devastation, collapsing buildings, and disrupting communications across the country.
According to the United States Tsunami Warning Centers, the two earthquakes occurred just 39 seconds apart, forming what seismologists describe as a “seismic doublet”—a rare event in which two major earthquakes strike the same region within seconds. Authorities later clarified that the initial 7.2-magnitude tremor was a precursor to the 7.5-magnitude main earthquake after further seismic analysis.
The earthquakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, with tremors felt across much of the Caribbean region. A tsunami alert initially issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands was later canceled after further assessment.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed the latest casualty figures, saying rescue teams continue to search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. She described La Guaira State as a “disaster zone,” where extensive structural damage has left thousands homeless. State television broadcast dramatic images of rescue workers pulling three dust-covered children alive from the rubble.
The United Nations has called for an urgent international response. Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), expressed condolences to the victims and urged immediate global assistance.
“Heartbreaking news from Venezuela where two powerful earthquakes struck within moments. Lives lost, many injured, and communities affected. Swift international support is critical to respond,” Pope said.
Residents described scenes of panic and destruction as buildings shook violently during a public holiday when many families were at home.
Journalist Noris Soto, reporting from Caracas, said the country was caught completely off guard.
“We felt a massive shock. Glass shattered everywhere, and my building cracked down the middle. People rushed into the streets in fear. We were simply not prepared for this.”
Soto added that widespread communication outages have made it difficult to assess the full scale of the disaster.
“Phone lines and internet services are down, making it nearly impossible to gather information from affected areas. What we do know is that many people have lost their homes and, in many cases, everything they owned.”
Emergency crews remain engaged in search-and-rescue operations as authorities warn the death toll could continue to rise while assessments continue across the hardest-hit regions.
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