Back-To-Back 7.2 And 7.5 Quakes Kill At Least 164 In Venezuela

Back-to-back earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, with a 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude sequence shaking the region and killing at least 164 people while injuring more than 1,000, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“CARACAS, Venezuela — Back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets”

Chicago Tribune

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said in a late Wednesday address that the earthquakes damaged the country’s main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, severely enough to lead to its closure, and she added that classes were being canceled for several days.

Cyprus Mail

The AP report described the quakes as roiling the region shortly after 6 p.m., with buildings evacuated in cities and areas spread as far as Brazil’s Amazon about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) away.

In Caracas, residents reported power and cellphone signal outages as dust columns appeared in two neighborhoods and collapsed walls left furniture visible from the street, while Caracas resident Hector Ricci said, "It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together."

In the state of Falcon, Gov. Victor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalized and more than four hours after the earthquake there were still 15 people trapped, as the U.S. Geological Survey initially set the first quake at 7.1 before revising it to 7.2.

World leaders and Venezuelan celebrities reacted Thursday with messages of solidarity and offers of assistance after the earthquakes, and U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio said on X, "The United States extends our deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes."

Rubio added that "at the direction of President Trump, the State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela," as the Houston Chronicle described.

Detroit Catholic

In Caracas, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, in exile after leaving Venezuela in December, posted on X, "May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time," while the AP report also quoted Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urging people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage structures.

The AP account also reported that Rodríguez urged unity and asked all health care professionals to report to hospitals to assist anyone who was injured, as residents continued to search for loved ones amid collapsed buildings.

In Cyprus, the foreign ministry said it was "deeply shocked" by the loss of life and devastation, and it added that Cyprus was closely monitoring developments and stood ready to assist where appropriate.

The AP report said the earthquakes damaged the country’s main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, and it also described parts of the capital losing power and cellphone signal as aftershocks remained a concern.

“(OSV News) ─The archbishop of Caracas called for prayers and solidarity after back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela, killing over 150 people and injuring hundreds more”

Detroit Catholic

In Caracas, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television that "Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed," while he urged motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.

The Mercury News also reported that in the Altamira neighborhood, Cabello described "alarming situations" with collapsed homes and buildings, suggesting people were injured and prompting continued rescue and aid efforts.

Meanwhile, the Cyprus Mail reported that the US geological survey warned that the scale of the disaster could be far greater, with preliminary assessments indicating the possibility of a significantly higher casualty count as search and recovery operations continue.

With the death toll already reported as at least 164 by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, the Houston Chronicle described rescue teams trying to make the most of daylight hours to speed up efforts to rescue people believed to remain trapped under collapsed buildings.