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Powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela, tens of thousands feared dead
🇸🇪 Sweden /Disasters & Emergencies

Powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela, tens of thousands feared dead

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Two powerful earthquakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela near Morón.
  • The shallow quakes, occurring minutes apart, caused widespread destruction and over 20 aftershocks.
  • Between 10,000 and 100,000 deaths are feared, and a national state of emergency has been declared.

Venezuela is reeling after two massive earthquakes struck its coast, causing widespread devastation and an feared death toll that could reach 100,000. The first quake registered a magnitude of 7.2, followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor just minutes later. Both were relatively shallow, striking near Morón with depths of approximately 20 and 10 kilometers respectively.

To those who unfortunately have lost a family member, we want to express our deepest condolences.

— Delcy RodríguezPresident Delcy Rodríguez's statement following the earthquakes.

Images from the affected areas depict scenes of utter destruction, with people sifting through rubble of collapsed buildings, power poles, and trees. Rescue and medical personnel are actively searching the debris. The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) model suggests a grim fatality count, ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 people. Authorities have not yet confirmed official death tolls.

We have buildings, homes and residential buildings that have collapsed, and we are handling the situation with everything we have available in terms of security and civil support.

— Diosdado CabelloInterior Minister Diosdado Cabello describing the damage and response efforts.

President Delcy Rodríguez expressed deep condolences to those who lost family members and urged calm. A national state of emergency has been declared. Power outages are widespread, schools are closed, and Simón Bolívar International Airport in La Guaira has shut down due to significant damage. "We have buildings, homes and residential buildings that have collapsed, and we are handling the situation with everything we have available in terms of security and civil support," said Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

The two major earthquakes that have just struck the Venezuelan people are both enormous in their scope and have caused a devastatingly large number of deaths.

— Donald TrumpU.S. President Donald Trump's reaction to the earthquakes in Venezuela.

Several countries, including the United States, have offered assistance. President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the earthquakes were "enormous in their scope" and had caused a "devastatingly large number of deaths." He has instructed agencies to be ready to act if Venezuela requests help, adding, "We will be there for our new and good friends. The first reports do not look good!"

We will be there for our new and good friends. The first reports do not look good!

— Donald TrumpU.S. President Donald Trump's offer of assistance to Venezuela.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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