7.5 & 7.2 Twin Earthquakes Rocked Venezuela! Buildings Collapsed in Caracas & La Guaira

On the evening of Wednesday, June 24th, 2026, Venezuela was rocked by a series of powerful twin earthquakes. These earthquakes, which struck the country's northern coast, caused dozens of buildings to collapse, widespread panic and extensive damage. Interim President Del C. Rodriguez announced that at least 32 people had lost their lives and 700 were injured. However, officials emphasized that the death toll is expected to rise. The first earthquake struck shortly after 6 p.m. local time. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, USGS, this 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred west of the town of Moran on the country's Caribbean coast, approximately 168 kilometers west of the capital, Caracas. The earthquake's depth was measured at 22 kilometers. Just one minute after the first tremor, a second and much stronger earthquake struck. This second earthquake, measuring 7.5 in magnitude, occurred about 16 kilometers southwest of Moran. This tremor was the largest earthquake Venezuela has experienced in the last century. These two powerful tremors, which occurred about 40 seconds apart, left the entire country in shock. The earthquake's most severe impact was felt in La Guaira, a northern coastal state near the capital, Caracas. According to the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, La Guaira has been the hardest hit area so far. Video footage from La Guaira showed numerous buildings collapsing, including a section of an eight-story hotel. Interim President Rodriguez officially declared La Guaira a disaster area. In a statement late last night, Rodriguez said, We can say that the situation in La Guaira is a true tragedy. The earthquakes also caused widespread destruction in the capital, Caracas. People were evacuated from swaying buildings. Many were shocked by the sight of collapsed walls and rubble. Thick clouds of dust rose in two neighborhoods of the city, which are home to many restaurants and businesses. The structure of the sedimentary layer beneath Caracas amplified the seismic waves, exacerbating the earthquake damage. In a video shared by a former member of Congress at the International Airport near Caracas, people were seen running and many areas inside the airport were covered in rubble and dust. Other footage from Simon Believer International Airport showed people scrambling in all directions as ceilings began to collapse in the aftermath of the earthquakes. Caracas residents described how the tremors were felt gently at first, then gradually intensified, eventually forcing everyone to leave their homes and take to the streets. Maria Romero, an 80-year-old retiree living in southern Caracas, noted that the police were assisting with the evacuation. Romero said this earthquake felt even more intense than the 1967 Caracas earthquake, which claimed the lives of more than 200 people. Residents of western Caracas reported that as soon as the earthquake began, screams rang out from all directions and people ran down the stairs. An office worker noted that he received an earthquake alert on his phone just before the tremors intensified. The worker, who felt a slight tremor just as he began reading the alert, said that within less than two seconds, everything began to shake. The earthquakes caused dozens of buildings to collapse in various regions of the country. According to Interim President Rodriguez, buildings collapsed nationwide, from the capital Caracas to the coastal town of Catia Lamar. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reported alarming situations involving collapsed homes and buildings in the Altamira neighborhood of Caracas. Videos circulating on social media showed thick clouds of dust rising above commercial areas in the capital, as well as cracked structures and crumbling concrete facades highlighting the scale of the disaster. The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued several tsunami warnings following the earthquakes. These warnings were lifted shortly thereafter and it was announced that there was no longer a tsunami threat. The earthquake was also felt in other parts of Latin America, including Colombia. The death toll is expected to rise in the coming hours. The USGS warned that there is a 44% probability of more than 10,000 deaths due to the risk of infrastructure collapse in Venezuela and the prevalence of unreinforced brick and adobe structures in the region. Models indicate that the total death toll could range from 10,000 to 100,000. U.S. President Donald Trump also stated that there could be devastating loss of life. According to Rodriguez's statement, the reported figures of 32 fatalities and 700 injured do not yet include casualties in La Guaira State. Officials note that determining the exact number of casualties is extremely difficult due to disruptions in communication infrastructure and challenges in assessing remote areas. Following the earthquakes, there were also serious Internet outages across Venezuela. According to the Internet monitoring group NetBlocks, connection outages occurred nationwide, including in Caracas after a series of powerful earthquakes damaged the country's electricity and telecommunications infrastructure. In some parts of the capital, electricity and cell phone signals were completely cut off. This situation has further deepened the hardships of many families. More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have already left the country during the ongoing economic crisis. In a statement, Interior Minister Cabello said, We understand that some people may be in desperate situations, but we are acting in accordance with protocols to mobilize aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most. Cabello urged citizens to be very careful with children and the elderly, check on one another and make sure no one is harmed, while advising people to stay outdoors on the grounds that aftershocks could cause further damage to some buildings. Interim President Rodriguez declared a state of emergency nationwide following the earthquakes. A special task force was formed for search and rescue operations. Metro and natural gas services in Caracas have been suspended. The Caracas International Airport remains temporarily closed. Schools nationwide have been closed for one week. Rail services and non-essential activities have also been temporarily suspended. The Ministry of National Education announced that some schools would be converted into emergency aid centers and shelters for families affected by the disaster. Staff at the Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas were asked to work double shifts to treat the injured. Hundreds of personnel, including members of Venezuela's security forces, are on the ground responding to the crisis. Civil defense officials have been deployed to the hardest hit areas near the earthquake's epicenter to assess infrastructure damage. Emergency personnel are actively working to search for citizens trapped under the rubble or who have been injured. Rodriguez announced that rescue teams from other countries will arrive in Venezuela in the coming hours. It was reported that rescue teams from the United States, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico and Qatar will arrive in the country to support relief efforts. It was also announced that China, Brazil and Caribbean nations have offered humanitarian aid. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington is ready, willing and able to help. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that search and rescue teams, medical supplies and humanitarian aid have been dispatched to Venezuela immediately at President Trump's direction. In his statement, Rubio said, Experts assessing the earthquake's intensity point out that several critical factors contributed to the high death toll and widespread damage. The earthquake's proximity to populated areas, Venezuela's old and unreinforced buildings, the sedimentary layer beneath Caracas amplifying seismic waves and the risk of landslides and liquefaction in the mountainous region are among the primary factors. From an economic perspective, this earthquake will place even greater strain on Venezuela's already severely shaken economy. The country, which faced an extremely fragile economic situation even before the crisis, will now have to contend with a large-scale reconstruction process. In the wake of one of the most devastating earthquakes in Venezuela's recent history, Venezuelans continue to wait with hope for the rescue of those trapped under the rubble and for life to return to normal. Officials emphasize that search and rescue operations are continuing non-stop and that every effort is being made to reach every affected area. We will continue to closely monitor developments in Venezuela, search and rescue operations and the latest updates on the death toll. See you later.