Overview
- The twin earthquakes struck Wednesday evening, with a roughly 7.2 foreshock followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5 mainshock near Morón, San Felipe and Yumare.
- Dozens of multi‑storey buildings collapsed in Caracas and coastal towns, Simón Bolívar (Maiquetía) airport sustained structural damage and major transport services were suspended pending inspections.
- Venezuelan authorities have declared a nationwide state of emergency and reported at least 164 deaths and 971 injured while warning that totals may rise as rescue teams search rubble.
- The USGS issued a red alert and probabilistic models warned of high probable fatalities and wide uncertainty in estimates, and seismologists say many aftershocks are likely in the coming days.
- The United States and several countries have mobilized search‑and‑rescue teams, medical supplies and humanitarian aid, but communications problems and damaged roads are slowing coordination and relief delivery.