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Double Quake Rocks Venezuela: Airport Ceiling Collapses Amid Panic
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท Greece /Energy & Infrastructure

Double Quake Rocks Venezuela: Airport Ceiling Collapses Amid Panic

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Two strong earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Venezuela, causing widespread damage and panic.
  • At least 32 deaths were confirmed by Thursday morning, with fears the toll could rise significantly.
  • The Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia suffered severe damage, with parts of the terminal collapsing, leading to its closure.

Venezuela was shaken by a powerful "twin earthquake" event, with two strong tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude hitting the country on Wednesday afternoon. The quakes caused extensive damage across Caracas and surrounding regions, leaving residents in a state of panic.

By Thursday morning, official reports confirmed at least 32 fatalities. However, authorities expressed grave concern that the death toll could escalate dramatically, with estimates suggesting as many as 100,000 people might be affected. The seismic activity was also felt in neighboring Colombia, with residents in Bogota reporting strong building oscillations.

One of the most dramatic scenes unfolded at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, near Caracas. Videos circulating on social media captured the terrifying moments passengers fled the terminal as parts of the ceiling collapsed around them. The airport sustained severe damage, forcing its closure as inspection teams assessed the safety of the facilities.

This event marks the most significant seismic activity in Venezuela in a century. The full extent of the damage and the final casualty count are still being assessed as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.