A strong earthquake causes buildings to collapse in Caracas

Vivian Sequeira and Myla Armas

Updated June 25, 2026 — 4:52pm First Published at 10:04am

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Caracas: Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971 others after dozens of buildings collapsed into piles of crushed concrete and steel in and around its capital, Caracas.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck about 160 kilometers west of Caracas on Wednesday evening (Caracas time), followed less than a minute later by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Rescue workers search through the rubble of a collapsed building in Caracas. AP Emergency workers scramble over the destroyed rubble of the collapsed building.AP

The US Geological Survey, using predictive modeling to estimate the death toll, said it was likely in the thousands, with a high probability of exceeding 10,000.

Video footage showed emergency workers scrambling over the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital as night fell while distraught relatives pleaded for help for loved ones believed to be trapped. Many distraught survivors were carried away, some on stretchers.

“When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie,” said Maria Alejandra, a resident of a nearby building, who did not give her last name.

Police and responders are searching for the victims. Getty Images A man talks to a paramedic in a collapsed building in Los Palos Grandes. Getty Images

“We had to climb over the rubble and everything. The building supervisor was with the child and all the neighbors coming down. But from that building, I only saw one family get out.”

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency. She added that the preliminary numbers of victims do not include residents of the most affected state of La Guaira, which is located near Caracas and is home to the city’s airport, which was closed.

“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” she said in an appearance on state television.

A collapsed building in central Caracas. AP Photo/Adrian Naranjo

“I also want to say that this is a real tragedy. From here, we send our message of solidarity, and to those families who lost their loved ones, we reaffirm our condolences and support in these difficult hours.”

A website to track missing persons was created and posted on

Many Venezuelans were at home when the quake struck on the afternoon of a public holiday.

“There was a very loud collision,” said Coro Martinez, 56, who lives in eastern Caracas. “Things fell in the house, jugs inside the refrigerator. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Trump offers help after “devastating number of deaths”

Aftershocks continued in the capital until the early hours of Thursday morning (Caracas time).

Rodriguez said the country is focusing on rescue efforts, including the arrival of rescue crews from other countries in the coming hours, and she also thanked leaders including US President Donald Trump.

People sleep outside their homes. AP People camp out at a sports field. AP

Trump said in a social media post that the United States is ready, willing and able to assist with the disaster.

“The two major earthquakes that just struck the great people of Venezuela were massive in scale and left a devastating death toll,” said Trump, who ordered the arrest of then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a violent raid in January.

The district mayor said on social media that three people died in the Barota district of Caracas after two buildings collapsed. Gustavo Duque, mayor of the Chacao district in the capital, told reporters that one person was killed and four buildings completely collapsed.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told state television: “We have buildings and houses that have collapsed and we are dealing with things with all the security and civilian assistance we have.”

Residents rush to the streets

Wilmer Azogue, a former Venezuelan lawmaker, captured the moment at Maiquetia Airport when the quake struck, sending down construction work and clouds of dust.

While filming the scene on video, he said: “Everyone, the situation we are witnessing here is dangerous. An earthquake of great strength. Look how everything ended.”

Firefighter rescues dog.AP A man holds water bottles as first responders work at the scene of a building collapse in Los Palos Grandes. Getty Images

A tsunami warning was issued but quickly canceled after the danger passed. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of Japan shortly after earthquakes in Venezuela, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Residents across Caracas, which was also hit by a deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 1967, rushed to evacuate as buildings shook.

“As soon as it started, we started hearing people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicity worker in western Caracas. “Everyone was running down the stairs.”

Residents console a man in the street after the two earthquakes. AP Photo / Ariana Cubillos

Maria Romero, an 80-year-old retiree who lives in southern Caracas, said police helped her get out of her home. “This earthquake was horrific, even worse than the 1967 earthquake,” she said.

Another resident, a 41-year-old office employee who refused to reveal her name, said that she received an earthquake alert on her phone just before the tremor intensified.

“When I picked him up and started listening to what he was saying, I first felt a slight tremor. Then, in less than two seconds, everything started moving.”

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Leaders of countries including China, Spain, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Brazil expressed support and sympathy, while the US State Department said it was in contact with Venezuelan authorities and mobilizing assistance.

Rodriguez, who has run the country since the United States ousted Maduro, said she had instructed the State Department to coordinate aid offers.

The US Embassy in Caracas said it was closely monitoring the effects of the earthquake and urged citizens in the country to seek safe shelter.

Venezuela is located in a seismically active area where the Caribbean plate meets the South American plate. An estimated 30,000 people were killed when a powerful earthquake caused widespread destruction in the cities of Mérida and Caracas in 1812, according to the US Geological Survey.

Hospitals prepare for the wounded

A worker at Hospital de Clínicas in Caracas said staff had been asked to double the night shift to help treat the injured. Classes were canceled for the rest of the week as authorities began assessing the damage.

Hospitals are preparing to receive the injured. Getty Images

It did not immediately appear that Venezuela’s oil infrastructure was affected by the earthquake. Civil protection authorities in Maracaibo, near the large oil hub of Lake Maracaibo, said no injuries were reported, and a worker at the El Palito refinery near Moron – the epicenter – said there was no damage there.

British oil company Shell, which is evaluating the development of gas fields in Venezuela, said that all of its employees in the country had not been infected.

One source indicated that a prolonged power outage may affect crude oil production levels until service is restored. Venezuela’s oil ministry, state oil company PDVSA and its main foreign partner Chevron did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Reuters

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