Hundreds are feared dead and thousands injured after two powerful earthquakes (magnitude 7.2 and 7.5) struck Venezuela, causing widespread damage, particularly in Caracas and along the northern coast, halting infrastructure and triggering intensive rescue operations.
Venezuela was hit by its largest earthquake in over a century, consisting of two powerful quakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that struck 39 seconds apart near the town of Morón. This catastrophic event has left hundreds feared dead and thousands injured. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that much of the worst damage was concentrated in the capital, Caracas, approximately 100 miles east of the epicenter, and along the northern coast. Key affected areas include La Guaira, where the airport sustained severe damage with collapsing roof sections, leading to its immediate closure and the halting of metro and train systems. West of La Guaira, the seaside town of Catia La Mar saw dozens of large buildings, including hotels and condominiums, collapse, prompting intensive rescue operations. In central Caracas, the upscale neighborhoods of Altamira and Los Palos Grandes reported multiple collapsed buildings, with people feared trapped under rubble and rescue workers actively searching for survivors. The JW Marriott hotel, serving as the US's unofficial embassy, was also badly shaken. In the Baruta district of Caracas, three people were killed and two buildings collapsed, while in Chacao, one person died, four buildings collapsed, and 22 were hospitalized. Further inland, in Naguanagua (Carabobo state), building walls collapsed, and residents in Valencia gathered outside damaged structures, as the country grapples with the aftermath and a desperate search for survivors continues.
