Powerful 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Venezuela, Death Toll Could Reach 100,000

Venezuela has been hit by a major disaster after two powerful earthquakes struck the region west of the capital Caracas on Wednesday afternoon local time. The tremors caused buildings to collapse, trapped residents under debris, and triggered widespread damage, with scientists warning that the death toll could reach tens of thousands. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.2, occurred approximately 160 kilometres west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, the region was rocked by a second, stronger earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5. The USGS warned that the impact of the disaster could be enormous. ‘High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,’ the USGS stated. The agency’s initial estimate projected the death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000 people. Responding to the emergency, Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced the government would declare a national state of emergency and request funding from various multilateral organisations to support post-disaster recovery. ‘We extend our condolences to those who have unfortunately lost family members,’ Rodriguez said in a national address. However, the government has yet to announce a nationwide tally of deaths or injuries. Reports from local officials and eyewitnesses indicate that several buildings have collapsed, rescue operations are underway at multiple locations, and the number of injured continues to rise. ‘We have buildings, houses, and homes that have collapsed, and we are handling this situation with all the security and civil aid resources we have,’ Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said in an earlier televised broadcast. Video footage circulating showed rescue workers climbing over the rubble of collapsed buildings in Caracas as night fell. At the same site, desperate family members searched for information about relatives believed to be trapped under the debris. Gustavo Duque, the mayor of the Caracas administrative district of Chacao, said several buildings had collapsed due to the quake. He reported that at least 18 people had been evacuated alive from one collapsed building. ‘We will do everything we can to save as many people as possible,’ he said. Duque also urged residents to seek shelter in public squares and open areas due to the high potential for aftershocks. In the coastal state of Falcon, Governor Victor Clark said at least 22 people were injured by the earthquake. Rescue teams are also searching for 15 adults who have been reported missing. The earthquake struck while many Venezuelans were at home for a national holiday commemorating the 1821 military victory that helped the country gain independence from Spain. Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old advertising worker living in western Caracas, described the panic that ensued moments after the quake hit. ‘As soon as the earthquake started, we began to hear people screaming,’ she said. ‘Everyone ran down the stairs.’ Residents across Caracas rushed out of their homes as buildings began to shake. The city had previously experienced a deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 1967. Coro Martinez, 56, who lives in eastern Caracas, said he had never felt a tremor this strong in his life. ‘There was a very loud crashing sound. Things fell in the house, including containers in the fridge. I have never experienced anything like this,’ he said. Maria Romero, an 80-year-old retiree living in southern Caracas, said police helped evacuate her from her home. ‘This earthquake is terrible, even worse than the one in 1967,’ she said. An unnamed 41-year-old office worker said he received an earthquake warning on his mobile phone moments before the major tremors began. ‘When I picked up my phone and started listening to what it said, I first felt a slight tremor. Then, in less than two seconds, everything started moving.’ Rodriguez has led Venezuela since the ousting of US-backed President Nicolas Maduro in January. She has been championing a new era of cooperation with the US and other countries, particularly in the oil, mining, and other industrial sectors. The US Embassy in Caracas said it was monitoring the post-earthquake situation and urged all American citizens in Venezuela to seek safe shelter and stay away from damaged buildings. In Caracas, fire engines were seen operating at various locations. Several buildings were reported to have suffered severe damage to their facades. A worker at the Hospital de Clinicas Caracas said all staff were asked to double the number of personnel on the night shift to handle the surge in earthquake victims. The country’s largest airport in Maiquetia, on the northern coast of Caracas, was also closed due to damage caused by the earthquake, Rodriguez said. The government has also cancelled all teaching and learning activities until the end of the week while it assesses the extent of damage in various regions. In the energy sector, Venezuela’s oil infrastructure did not appear to have suffered significant damage for the time being. Most of the cities reporting severe damage are not major oil-producing areas.