Twin earthquakes kill at least 188 in Venezuela, damage buildings across Caracas

Two earthquakes struck Venezuela shortly after 6pm local time on Wednesday, killing at least 188 people and collapsing multiple buildings in the state of La Guaira and parts of Caracas. The first quake registered 7.2 on the Richter scale and was followed minutes later by a 7.5-magnitude event. Residents reported violent shaking that sent concrete fragments falling from walls and ceilings.

Rescue efforts and casualties Rescue teams searched through rubble on Thursday for survivors while families posted images of missing relatives on social media. Venezuela’s National Assembly confirmed the death toll of 188, though the United States Geological Survey estimated the final number could reach the thousands.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez appealed for international and private-sector help, stating the priority was to save lives. Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the US, Qatar and Argentina said they would send assistance.

Infrastructure damage and preparedness Older apartment blocks and buildings on soft sediment suffered the heaviest damage, according to civil engineer Jesus Vasquez. He noted that structures built since the 1950s were designed to flex during quakes, yet many facades cracked and some buildings will require evacuation.

Phone and power lines remained down in many areas on Thursday, though some services resumed. Schools closed and Caracas metro service halted as rail transport was suspended.

Access to information Internet providers partially unblocked the social media platform X after the quakes to allow families to locate relatives. Digital rights director Andres Azpurua said public pressure prompted the change following earlier restrictions imposed after the 2024 presidential election.

A website was also created to register missing people while residents continued to search for loved ones amid concerns over the health system’s capacity to treat large numbers of casualties.