The death toll from the catastrophic twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has surged sharply to at least 188, with 971 others reported injured. The updated figures were confirmed on Thursday by National Assembly Chief Jorge Rodriguez.
The latest announcement marks a grim escalation from initial government assessments, which had placed the casualties at 32 dead and over 700 injured.
According to Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, the crisis remains fluid as the country has been shaken by approximately 30 aftershocks following the dual main tremors.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the disaster was triggered by two massive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, which struck the same region in rapid succession. The double hit caused high-rise buildings in the capital city to collapse and forced the immediate closure of Venezuela’s main international airport.
Explaining the rare seismic phenomenon, the USGS stated:
“This earthquake was the second event in a doublet. This magnitude 7.5 mainshock was preceded by 39 seconds by a 7.2 foreshock.”
The USGS tracking data showed that the first tremor originated 21 kilometers (13 miles) west of the coastal town of Moron. Less than a minute later, the 7.5-magnitude quake struck just 45 kilometers away, compounding the destruction.
The impact in Caracas has been devastating. In the capital’s upscale Altamira neighborhood, a 22-story building was completely reduced to ruins. Eyewitness accounts described harrowing scenes of distraught citizens screaming out the names of missing loved ones while civilian volunteers scaled the unstable mounds of concrete to search for survivors.
The rescue operations are facing severe resource constraints. Amid the dust and debris of a collapsed structure, one volunteer cried out:
“We need flashlights.”
International Response
The scale of the tragedy has drawn immediate international attention. US President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with the victims, pledging swift American humanitarian and logistical intervention.
“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths,” the American president wrote on his Truth Social platform. “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly.”
Emergency response teams and local authorities continue to dig through the rubble across impacted zones, fearing that the casualty count could still rise as more collapsed structures are cleared.
