Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Delcy Rodríguez confirmed fatalities after twin earthquakes
Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has confirmed there had been fatalities, without specifying how many people may have died. Earlier, the USGS had said that it was estimating the death toll would most likely range from 10,000 to 100,000.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Venezuela orders activation of military’s General Staff, schools, trains to remain shut
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez said she has ordered the activation of the military’s General Staff, to be led by the commander general of the Bolivarian National Guard. She also said school classes have been cancelled and metro and rail services suspended, along with non-essential activities.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Mexico expresses ‘full solidarity’ with Venezuela
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its full solidarity with the Venezuelan people and said it “deeply regrets the damages and impacts caused" by the earthquakes.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Venezuela declares state of emergency
Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has declared a state of emergency in response to the two powerful earthquakes that have struck the country.
Rodriguez also said that Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia has been closed after sustaining severe damage.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Opposition leader Edmundo González says Venezuelans abroad can't know if their families are okay
“Two consecutive earthquakes have caused significant damage in Venezuela. Collapsed structures. Panic in the streets. Two hours later, we still don't know if there are victims or fatalities. And on top of that, the blockade. Venezuelans abroad can't know if their families are okay. Those inside don't grasp the magnitude of what happened. The uncertainty becomes another layer of anguish, and it's not a network outage: it's the systematic and prolonged blockade of information that Venezuelans endure," Edmundo González, who is widely recognized as the legitimate winner of the 2024 elections, said in a post on X.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: My heart and prayers are with every Venezuelan house, says Maria Corina Machado
Nobel laureate Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado posted on X saying “My heart, my infinite embrace, and my prayers are with every Venezuelan home in these hours of anguish. May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult moment."
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez to address the nation
Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez says she will be addressing the nation on the deadly earthquakes.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Colombia offers assistance to Venezuela
Colombia’s District Institute of Risk Management and Climate Change says it has activated its emergency response team and reached out to Venezuelan authorities to “coordinate the necessary technical and operational support."
“The goal is to provide all necessary assistance and make our teams available to support this situation," the disaster response agency said in a post on X.
“We also want to reassure the residents of Bogotá: following the earthquake felt in the capital, no damage or structural damage has been reported. The city is operating normally."
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Twin earthquakes leave a trail of destruction in Venezuela
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Closely monitoring the situation, says US Embassy in Caracas
US Embassy Caracas is closely monitoring the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Venezuela.
Actions to take:
- Avoid damaged areas and do not enter damaged buildings.
- Monitor local media for updates.
- Seek secure shelter.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Earthquakes felt in several states, high casualties feared
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake could be felt in several states. The Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had “alarming situations" with collapsed homes and buildings, he said, suggesting people were injured in the earthquake and asking motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles. An AFP journalist saw a 22-story building completely destroyed in the capital's Altamira neighborhood.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Wednesday’s quakes among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century
Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela. While the country sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. Along the Pacific coast — in Mexico and Chile, for example — earthquakes are frequent; the two countries sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire," responsible for 90% of earthquakes, according to the USGS.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Tsunami alert has been withdrawn
The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat for Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands after the earthquake, and said hazardous waves could also affect Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. The warning was withdrawn about an hour later.
Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Several buildings collapse after Venezuela earthquakes
Video filmed at the Hospital de Clinicas Caracas showed a darkened hallway with ceiling panels hanging by cables and pieces of plaster scattered across the floor.
Other videos on social media appeared to show significant damage at Venezuela's main airport, while residents reported collapsed buildings in La Guaira, a coastal city near Caracas. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage from the airport and La Guaira.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: Videos show the destruction left behind by two major earthquakes
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: USGA update magnitude of first earthquake to 7.2
The USGA has updated the magnitude of the first earthquake to hit Venezuela on Wednesday to 7.2. Initially, it was reported as a 7.1 magnitude quake.
"This earthquake was the second event in a doublet. This magnitude 7.5 mainshock was preceded by 39 seconds by a 7.2 foreshock," USGS said, updating an earlier assessment of the latter's magnitude.
Venezuela earthquake LIVE: High casualties and extensive damage are probable, says USGA
"High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread," the USGS said, with an initial death toll estimate likely between 10,000 and 100,000.
Authorities did not immediately give estimates for deaths or injuries. "Some buildings have been brought down (in Caracas), houses have collapsed," Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television.