By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes in quick succession on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency as rescue teams raced to search for survivors.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck approximately 160 kilometres west of Caracas, followed just 39 seconds later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor. The rare seismic doublet sent shockwaves across much of the country and was felt in neighbouring regions of the Caribbean.
Several buildings reportedly collapsed in the capital Caracas and nearby coastal areas, including La Guaira, trapping residents beneath rubble and triggering large-scale rescue operations. Emergency responders, firefighters, police personnel and volunteers were deployed to the worst-affected locations as aftershocks continued to rattle the region.
The earthquakes prompted temporary tsunami advisories for parts of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Authorities also warned of possible hazardous sea-level fluctuations along nearby coastlines before the alerts were later withdrawn after assessments indicated the threat had diminished.
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy RodrÃguez declared a state of emergency and urged citizens to remain calm while emergency services worked to assess the scale of the disaster. Schools were closed, rescue operations intensified and authorities appealed for international assistance. The country’s main international airport also suffered damage and was temporarily shut down.
The USGS warned that the earthquakes could result in extensive damage and significant loss of life. While official casualty figures remain unclear, scientists cautioned that the disaster could have severe humanitarian consequences given the strength and shallow depth of the tremors.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as residents rushed out of homes, offices and apartment buildings. Many spent the night outdoors amid fears of further aftershocks. Images circulating on social media showed collapsed structures, damaged roads and clouds of dust rising above affected neighbourhoods.
The twin earthquakes are being described as among the strongest seismic events to strike Venezuela in more than a century, raising concerns over the country’s ability to cope with a large-scale disaster amid ongoing economic challenges.
Rescue and assessment efforts were continuing late into the night as authorities worked to determine the full extent of the damage.