Overview
- Two near‑simultaneous large quakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey at roughly magnitude 7.1–7.5 and described as a seismic doublet separated by seconds.
- The shocks toppled multiple buildings in Caracas and coastal towns, damaged and closed Simón Bolívar (Maiquetía) International Airport, and caused widespread power, gas, metro and communications outages.
- Venezuelan authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency and acting President Delcy Rodríguez said official counts rose as searches continued, with public statements reporting deaths in the low hundreds and many hundreds injured.
- The USGS issued a red‑alert Pager warning that high casualties and extensive damage are probable and that aftershocks are likely; the agency’s initial worst‑case modelling included a broad high‑fatality range that prompted international readiness.
- Search‑and‑rescue operations are ongoing with national teams and offers of foreign assistance, and officials are prioritizing safety inspections, aid staging and medical care as aftershocks and damaged infrastructure complicate relief efforts.