DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Disasters & Emergencies

Rescue work underway after quakes rock Venezuela, 'high casualties' likely

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Strong earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.5 tremor, struck west of Venezuela's capital, causing buildings to collapse and trapping people.
  • Scientists warn of potentially heavy casualties and widespread destruction, with initial estimates suggesting a death toll between 10,000 and 100,000.
  • Emergency services are activated, and rescue efforts are underway amid reports of collapsed structures and injured individuals across the country.

Powerful earthquakes struck west of Venezuela's capital on Wednesday afternoon, bringing down buildings in Caracas and trapping residents beneath rubble. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued a stark warning, anticipating potentially heavy casualties and widespread destruction across the South American nation.

High casualties and extensive damage are probable, and the disaster is likely widespread.

— USGSThe U.S. Geological Survey's initial assessment of the earthquake's impact.

The initial seismic activity included a magnitude 7.2 earthquake approximately 160 km west of Caracas, followed swiftly by a magnitude 7.5 tremor. The USGS estimated that the death toll could range from 10,000 to 100,000, highlighting the potential severity of the disaster. While national figures for deaths and injuries were not immediately available, local officials and witnesses reported collapsed buildings, ongoing rescue operations, and a rising number of injured.

We have buildings, homes, and houses which have collapsed, and we are taking care of things with everything we have available in terms of security, civil assistance. The fire department, police, and all have been activated.

— Diosdado CabelloVenezuela's Interior Minister describing the immediate response to the earthquake.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed on state television that buildings, homes, and houses had collapsed. He assured that security and civil assistance forces, including the fire department and police, had been fully activated to manage the situation. Video footage circulating showed emergency workers navigating the ruins of collapsed structures in the capital as night fell, while desperate relatives sought information about loved ones believed to be trapped.

We're going to do everything we can to rescue the most people possible.

— Gustavo DuqueChacao Mayor Gustavo Duque on rescue efforts.

In the Chacao municipality of eastern Caracas, Mayor Gustavo Duque reported that two buildings had collapsed, resulting in 16 injuries and an unspecified number of fatalities. "We're going to do everything we can to rescue the most people possible," he stated. Many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes hit, coinciding with a public holiday. Residents described scenes of panic, with screams heard and people rushing into the streets to escape the shaking.

As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming. Everyone was running down the stairs.

— Astrid RamirezA resident of western Caracas describing the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog