Venezuelan Earthquakes Kill 32, Injure 700; Acting President Declares State of Emergency

Caracas (IANS): Two powerful earthquakes jolted Venezuela, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced in an official update on Thursday.

Rodriguez noted that the quakes hit the coastal state of La Guaira in northern Venezuela the hardest, describing it as a “disaster zone” where dozens of buildings collapsed. “La Guaira state is a true tragedy,” Rodriguez said on Venezuelan state television, according to a Xinhua news agency report.

She clarified that the preliminary toll of 32 deaths and 700 injuries excluded La Guaira state because connectivity problems are currently plaguing the area.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude 7.1 quake at 2204 GMT on Wednesday evening, followed just one minute later by an even stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor. Both struck near the coastal town of Moron, about 160 km west of Caracas. Because the quakes were shallow—with a depth of just 10 km—they likely carried a more destructive impact.

Following the disaster, Acting President Rodriguez declared a State of Emergency throughout the national territory to address the widespread damage.

“Following the strong earthquakes recorded this afternoon in the country, we have declared a State of Emergency throughout the national territory. We call on all citizens to remain alert, safe, and as calm as possible,” Rodriguez posted on X.

She also announced the closure of the Maiquetia airport due to earthquake damage, while assuring the public that security bodies, medical services, and civil protection teams are actively deploying across the country to conduct rescue and relief operations.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Interior, Justice, and Peace Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed that the strong earthquakes damaged cities across the nation. Several buildings collapsed in the eastern part of the Caracas metropolitan area, though Cabello gave no immediate details on casualties or injuries there.

Cabello urged Venezuelans to avoid staying inside buildings in the coming hours due to the risk of strong aftershocks, while calling on the public to remain calm and united.

Across the border, Colombian media reported that residents in several neighboring cities also felt the tremors strongly. The USGS expects the two quakes to result in high casualties and extensive damage.