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Earthquakes of 7.2 and 7.5 Strike Venezuela, Killing at Least 32 and Prompting International Aid
Twin quakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 hit near the coastal town of Moron on Wednesday. At least 32 people died and more than 700 were injured, with widespread infrastructure damage reported.
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Two earthquakes struck near the coastal town of Moron, Venezuela, on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700 others. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 and occurred within one minute of each other.
Moron lies about 170 km west of Caracas. Rescue teams pulled people from collapsed buildings in Caracas and surrounding regions. Volunteers, medics, and relatives searched rubble in Caracas's Altamira area for survivors.
A firefighter removed a dog from one damaged structure. Caracas airport closed, the metro system was suspended, and power outages affected multiple areas. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency late Wednesday and designated La Guaira state a disaster zone.
Families spent the night outside damaged homes without power or phone service while aftershocks continued. Rodriguez stated that rescuers from other countries are arriving in the coming hours. She added that the death toll is expected to rise as teams reach remote coastal communities.
The twin quakes rank among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Pakistan, Spain, Uruguay, and the United States offered condolences and assistance. The United States said it is deploying search-and-rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian aid.
