The two very powerful earthquakes—measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale—that struck Venezuela claimed the lives of at least 32 people, while more than 700 others were injured, according to the initial report announced today by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez.

“As of now, we have received reports of 32 deaths” and “more than 700 injured,” Ms. Rodriguez said in an address to the public, noting, however, that she does not yet have data for the state of La Guaira, near the capital, which, according to the head of state, was the hardest hit.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that thousands could have lost their lives or been severely injured in tonight’s double earthquakes in Venezuela.

The first quake had a magnitude of 7.1 and was swiftly followed by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake. pic.twitter.com/kEg9ZCjFMe

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 25, 2026

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, also announcing that the international airport serving the capital had sustained serious damage and would remain closed until further notice. Ms. Rodrigues expressed her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Authorities have suspended school and rail services, according to the acting president.

According to USGS data, the first seismic tremor—the “foreshock,” as she described it—measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 6:04 p.m. (local time; 01:04 Cyprus time) at a depth of 21.9 kilometers, about 200 kilometers west of Caracas. The second, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, with a shallow focal depth of 10 kilometers, followed 39 seconds later, 45 kilometers from there. About 20 strong aftershocks were then recorded.

The USGS warned that this “double” earthquake poses a risk of causing “widespread” destruction and “thousands” of deaths.

Absolute terror. Just awful. It’s so bad. I think this is the worst quake I’ve covered.

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This was during the M7.1 earthquake that struck Venezuela today. pic.twitter.com/L2gH3BUt3S

— Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) June 25, 2026

In Caracas, Agence France-Presse photographers witnessed search and rescue efforts being organized around collapsed buildings. Rescuers were pulling people out of the rubble on stretchers, while others were transporting them to ambulances.

An AFP correspondent saw a 22-story apartment building that had collapsed and been completely destroyed in the Altamira neighborhood. Outside, people were shouting the names of their loved ones, and some volunteers were climbing through the rubble. “We need flashlights,” one shouted as darkness fell.

Horrific images coming out of Venezuela tonight pic.twitter.com/4137VO8XAj

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 25, 2026

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed that buildings had collapsed in the capital and added that he had ordered the natural gas supply to be cut off.

“Some structures have been damaged, and we want to prevent any gas-related accidents,” he explained. He mentioned that there were injuries, but he has not yet provided a breakdown of the situation.

The situation remains unclear in the cities of Puerto Cabello and San Felipe, closer to the epicenter, where more than 400,000 people live.

U.S. Readiness to Assist Venezuela

U.S. authorities are “ready, willing, and able to help” Venezuela, which was struck by a double earthquake that has caused widespread destruction, U.S. President Donald Trump assured on Wednesday evening (shortly before 7:00 a.m. Cyprus time).

“The two major earthquakes that have just struck the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have caused a terrible number of deaths,” the Republican said via Truth Social, although no casualty figures have been announced by the authorities so far.

WATCH: Magnitude 7.1 earthquake destroys apartment building in Caracas, Venezuela. Number of casualties unknown. pic.twitter.com/eTVroUH5St

— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) June 24, 2026

“The U.S. is ready, willing, and able to help!” he added, assuring that “we will stand by our new and great friends.”

Earlier, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed via X that Washington is in “contact” with the authorities and is “mobilizing aid” for the earthquake victims.

“Unbelievable”

Many panicked residents rushed out into the streets. They remained there overnight, afraid to return for fear that houses and other buildings would collapse if there were more aftershocks.

“It was unbelievable; I don’t even know how long it lasted. I was on the top floor, and things started falling,” said Heidi Romero, a 42-year-old store manager who works at a shopping center in Altamira.

Utter devastation seen across the northern Venezuelan coastal city of La Guaira, following tonight’s pair of major earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, with an epicenter just west of Caracas. pic.twitter.com/BQv4YixUiB

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 25, 2026

“The entire wall was covered in cracks, things were falling from the ceiling—it was horrific,” said Odalis Escalona, 54, a bank employee.

Power outages were reported in the capital, where many streets were littered with broken glass.

Carmen Gedes, 69, was in her bedridden sister’s room when the ground began to shake.

BREAKING: Multiple structures have reportedly collapsed in Caracas, Venezuela, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region. pic.twitter.com/9KSN4srhwB

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 24, 2026

“The intensity just kept increasing,” said the resident of a middle-class neighborhood in the hills of the capital.

“I started to see the windows shaking, then everything was shaking. My sister, a neighbor, and I were clinging to each other; we couldn’t go outside,” she added.

Airport Closed

The Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maquetía, La Guaira, about 40 kilometers from Caracas, was closed “due to serious damage,” Acting President Rodríguez said in her address.

Images released by Congressman Wilmer Asuaje show sections of the roof having collapsed in an airport terminal and people running away in panic.

The tremors were particularly strong in neighboring Colombia, whose capital, Bogotá, is 1,000 kilometers away from Caracas as the crow flies. According to that country’s risk and disaster management unit, “there is no risk of a tsunami along the Colombian Caribbean coast.”

The U.S. Tsunami Early Warning System, for its part, reported a threat of potentially destructive waves striking Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as islands off the coast of Venezuela (Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire). It withdrew the warning about an hour later.

Source: APE-MPE