Caracas:
The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes hit northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction across coastal areas and parts of Caracas. Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said at least 4,300 people had been injured, while many victims had either arrived dead at hospitals or died soon after reaching them.
La Guaira, north of Caracas, has emerged as one of the worst-hit regions. The coastal state, which houses the country’s main airport, has been declared a disaster zone. The airport has been shut due to damage, slowing relief and rescue operations.
Across northern Venezuela, residents spent Thursday digging through rubble in search of relatives and neighbours. Many said promised heavy machinery had not arrived, leaving locals to carry out rescue work themselves.
“I want to know where my child is, if he’s trapped or in a shelter,” said Dayana Delgado, whose eight-year-old son was missing.
State television showed rescuers pulling survivors from collapsed structures, including a woman trapped beneath a cement slab. In other areas, families wept as bodies were recovered from the debris, while missing-person flyers and handwritten lists began appearing across neighbourhoods.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said rescue teams were being sent to La Guaira and appealed to businesses to provide heavy construction equipment. “We hope to rescue as many living people as possible,” she said.
Rodríguez declared a state of emergency late Wednesday and announced a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes. She said the first rescue teams from the Dominican Republic were expected to arrive soon, with more international assistance on the way.
The United States, Mexico, Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal and Canada were among the countries that offered aid, including search teams, emergency personnel, medical supplies, aircraft, drones, water purifiers and canine units. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was deploying search-and-rescue teams and medical resources, though the closure of Venezuela’s main airport had created logistical hurdles.
The US Treasury also moved to waive some sanctions until October 23 to allow earthquake-relief transactions that would otherwise be barred.
The US Geological Survey said the first quake struck west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 km west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 km. A minute later, a 7.5-magnitude quake hit 16 km southwest of Moron at a depth of 10 km.
Experts said the shallow depth and near-simultaneous impact of the tremors amplified the damage.
In Caracas, hundreds spent the night in parks, parking lots and other open spaces, fearing further collapses. Parts of the capital lost power and mobile connectivity. Subway services were suspended, natural gas supply was shut off, and classes were cancelled for several days. Some school buildings are being converted into shelters and donation centres.
The disaster has added to the challenges facing Rodríguez, who took office in January after the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela has already been struggling with economic instability and political uncertainty.
Shortly after United Nations officials urged the government to lift social media restrictions to allow access to life-saving information, Venezuelans reported being able to access X, which had been blocked since August 2024.
Survivors described scenes of devastation, with buildings reduced to shells, furniture hanging from broken windows and families waiting for news of the missing.
“I lost everything,” said Cristian Carreño, standing outside his damaged apartment building in La Guaira. “There are people still inside. It is incredibly devastating.”
