Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people, injuring more than 700 and causing widespread damage across Caracas and other parts of the country, officials said.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquakes measured magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 and occurred in rapid succession near the coastal city of Maiquetía.
Images shared on social media showed damaged buildings and infrastructure, as well as injured people in the streets. Authorities also issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Caribbean shortly after the earthquakes.
The first earthquake occurred at 6:15 p.m. local time. Venezuelan officials said the seismic event consisted of two major tremors occurring one after the other. The shaking was strongly felt in areas including Yaracuy, Barquisimeto, Valencia, Maracay, Puerto Cabello and several coastal communities, triggering multiple aftershocks.
The earthquakes disrupted power and internet service in several areas, further straining a country already facing significant infrastructure challenges.
According to an official government report released Wednesday night, at least 32 people were killed and more than 700 were injured.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said authorities had received reports of 32 deaths, not including figures that could still emerge from La Guaira state, and more than 700 injured people treated at public and private health care facilities.
Impact on Caracas and Other Regions
In Caracas and northwestern Venezuela, the earthquakes were felt with particular intensity. Infrastructure that had already been weakened by years of limited maintenance sustained significant damage. Officials and residents reported that portions of several buildings broke away, while some structures collapsed completely.
Pablo Salcedo, director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Caracas, told Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition, that many buildings and homes in the area suffered structural damage.
“There is extensive damage to infrastructure here, with buildings and houses cracked,” Salcedo said. “Walls collapsed as plaster gave way and concrete blocks broke apart.”
Salcedo said reports indicated that at least one residential building had collapsed completely.
From Margarita Island, journalist Georges Doumat, director of the newspaper Verdad y Vida, said the earthquake was felt only lightly in his area but expressed concern about conditions in the capital.
At the time of his comments, no official casualty reports had been released from some affected areas. However, Doumat said that if people had been inside collapsed buildings, fatalities were possible.
Community leaders and aid organizations have also begun documenting the extent of the damage. Carlos Vielma, a representative of the organization Nuvipa in Venezuela, described widespread disruptions caused by damaged infrastructure, power outages and limited access to essential services.
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, churches and Christian ministries mobilized to assist affected communities. According to Salcedo, YWAM’s Caracas facility sustained no major damage, allowing staff and volunteers to immediately begin helping local residents.
“We've been in the community offering encouragement and support to people during this difficult time,” Salcedo said.
Vielma said approximately 15 buildings had collapsed in Caracas and that many others sustained significant damage. Those figures had not been independently verified.
Rescue efforts have been complicated by a shortage of emergency personnel, according to local aid workers.
“The number of people seeking help and guidance is enormous,” Vielma said. “There are very few firefighters and police officers available to respond to this tragedy.”
Christian ministries and media organizations across the region remain in contact with affected communities and continue to monitor developments.
Doumat said they were closely following reports from across the country to better understand the full extent of the disaster.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
