Two Massive Quakes Ravage Northern Venezuela

Overview

• The double earthquake, which struck Wednesday, produced two shallow shocks of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 with epicenters about 5 km apart, according to the USGS.
• Dozens of multi‑storey buildings collapsed or were severely damaged in La Guaira and parts of Caracas, and the Simón Bolívar/Maiquetía international airport suffered structural damage and was closed.
• Official casualty counts have risen and remain inconsistent, with government tallies reported between about 164 and 920 deaths and thousands of injured as rescue teams continue to search the rubble.
• The interim government declared a national state of emergency, designated La Guaira a disaster zone, announced an initial US$200 million reconstruction fund, and mobilized national rescue forces while international teams from at least 16 countries began arriving.
• Humanitarian agencies and the USGS warn the final toll and needs could be far larger, with the IOM estimating up to about 6.76 million people affected and predictive models showing a substantial probability that deaths could reach many thousands.