Overview
- Two powerful earthquakes, 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck less than a minute apart on Wednesday evening, toppling buildings in La Guaira and Caracas and triggering immediate mass evacuations.
- Venezuelan authorities say official deaths have risen into the low hundreds with thousands injured and many people still unaccounted for as search teams continue to pull survivors from rubble.
- The quakes damaged critical infrastructure including major cracks at Simón Bolívar International Airport and forced suspension of metro, gas and some power services that hinder rescue and relief work.
- Multiple countries, UN agencies and U.S. search-and-rescue and medical teams have mobilized to Venezuela while sanctions and logistics rules have been loosened to speed humanitarian deliveries.
- Years of weakened public services and fragile housing have increased risk, and USGS forecasts a high probability of strong aftershocks in the coming days that will prolong danger and slow recovery.