Overview
- The two earthquakes struck within seconds of each other in the early hours between Wednesday and Thursday, registering magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 with shallow epicenters near Montalbán and Yumare.
- Officials released a provisional toll of at least 32 dead and more than 700 injured as rescue teams work through widespread building collapses concentrated in La Guaira and the Caracas metro area.
- Simón Bolívar (Maiquetía) international airport was closed and public services including schools and some transit were suspended after videos and eyewitness footage showed falling debris and damaged infrastructure.
- President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency while authorities warn that damaged hospitals and under-resourced emergency services limit domestic response capacity.
- Several countries, including the United States, have offered or begun mobilizing search-and-rescue and medical aid, which officials say will be crucial as crews continue to search for survivors and the official counts remain provisional.