Twin earthquakes kill 32, injure over 700 in Venezuela

Venezuela is grappling with the devastating aftermath of twin earthquakes that struck the nation, leaving at least 32 people dead and over 700 injured. The powerful seismic activity, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused extensive damage, including the collapse of entire buildings and widespread panic among residents.

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At this time, we have received reports of 32 deaths and more than 700 injured.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency as authorities and citizens scrambled to search for survivors in piles of rubble. The capital city experienced significant structural damage, with AFP journalists reporting the complete destruction of a 22-story building in the Altamira neighborhood. The country's main international airport, Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, was forced to close due to severe damage to its infrastructure.

The earthquakes, with epicenters located west of the coastal town of Moron, occurred in quick succession. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the 7.5 magnitude mainshock was preceded by a 7.2 magnitude foreshock. Following the initial quakes, at least 20 aftershocks were recorded, further unsettling the affected areas.

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The stairs came away, the whole wall cracked. Things fell from the ceiling. It was horrible.

In response to the disaster, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed condolences and stated that the U.S. is ready to provide assistance. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged citizens to evacuate damaged buildings as a precautionary measure, with gas supplies being cut off to prevent potential accidents.

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The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths. The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly.

Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, with one bank employee describing the terrifying moments as walls cracked and objects fell from the ceiling. The scale of the disaster is still unfolding, particularly in the hardest-hit region of La Guaira, for which casualty data was not yet available.

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We have some damaged structures and we don’t want any kind of accident involving gas to occur.