Thousands feared at risk after powerful Venezuela earthquakes, rescue operations continue

LA GUAIRA/CARACAS/MORÓN, Venezuela — Nearly 190 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds remain trapped or missing after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, collapsing buildings, damaging infrastructure and leaving thousands of residents without homes as rescue teams race against time to find survivors.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Wednesday evening near Venezuela’s Caribbean coast. The stronger quake was reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the most powerful earthquake to hit the country since 1900.

The twin tremors affected areas around Caracas, La Guaira and Morón, causing widespread destruction in communities already struggling with years of economic hardship and weakened infrastructure.

Venezuela’s National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said Thursday that 188 people had been confirmed dead, 200 were trapped, and 1,520 had been hospitalized. He added that approximately 250 buildings were damaged or destroyed.

La Guaira state, the coastal region bordering Caracas and home to the country’s main international airport, was among the hardest-hit areas.

“It has become a disaster zone,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said, adding that the government was coordinating with private companies to bring heavy equipment and speed up rescue operations.

Emergency responders searched through collapsed buildings overnight using machinery, tools and, in some areas, their bare hands. Families gathered near damaged structures waiting for news of relatives still missing.

One resident, Yamileth Jiménez of La Guaira, said her 19-year-old son remained trapped under the debris of their seven-story apartment building.

“He’s under the slabs and there’s no machinery to get him out,” she said.

Residents in some affected areas reported delays in receiving emergency assistance as the scale of the destruction overwhelmed initial rescue efforts.

Many survivors spent the night outdoors after fleeing shaking buildings and fearing further collapses due to aftershocks.

“When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie,” said María Alejandra, a Caracas resident who witnessed the destruction.

Near the earthquake’s epicenter in Morón, Carabobo state, homes collapsed and residents reported shortages of electricity and water. Families salvaged whatever belongings they could from damaged homes, including mattresses, appliances and personal items.

Denis Sequera, a resident of Morón, described how her young granddaughter helped guide her elderly grandfather to safety during the earthquake.

“She kept telling my dad, ‘Grandpa, get out, put your hands over your head,’” Sequera said.

The USGS warned that the humanitarian impact could become severe, with predictive models indicating the possibility of a much higher death toll. However, officials said confirmed casualties remained under assessment as rescue operations continued.

A website tracking missing persons, shared by opposition figures, listed tens of thousands of people as unaccounted for, although the reports could not be independently verified.

International support began arriving as countries offered assistance for rescue and humanitarian operations. The United States said it was preparing search-and-rescue teams, medical support and logistical assistance, while other nations also pledged aid.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was ready to assist Venezuela, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American teams would support rescue operations and recovery efforts.

The United Nations said it was coordinating international assistance and warned that a large humanitarian response would be needed in a country where millions already required aid before the earthquake.

The U.N. human rights mission in Venezuela called for reliable communications access, saying connectivity was critical during the emergency.

Technology company SpaceX also announced that its Starlink satellite internet service would provide free connectivity support in affected areas to help restore communication lines.

Rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities continue searching collapsed buildings, treating the injured and assessing the full scale of one of Venezuela’s most devastating natural disasters in decades.