32 dead and more than 700 injured in two earthquakes that struck Venezuela

June 25, 2026 (PEN) Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, announced on Thursday that the death toll from two earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday evening had risen to 32, with more than 700 injured. She noted that the coastal state of La Guaira was the most affected, while rescue teams continued to search for people trapped under the rubble.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, struck at a depth of 21.9 kilometers near the city of San Felipe in the state of Yaracuy, at 6:04 p.m. Eastern Time.

The agency reported a second, stronger earthquake of magnitude 7.5 at a depth of 10 kilometers southeast of the town of Yomari, just 39 seconds after the first earthquake, followed by about 20 aftershocks, in an incident the agency described as a "double disaster with serious consequences".

Initial reports indicated that the two tremors caused the collapse of dozens of buildings in La Guaira, the capital Caracas, and the states of Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcon, in addition to power outages in several areas.

Rodriguez declared a state of emergency, suspending classes and rail traffic, and ordered the closure of Maiquetia International Airport, which serves the capital Caracas, after its infrastructure was damaged.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello asked citizens to evacuate their homes and cut off gas to buildings, in anticipation of any explosions.

Rodriguez confirmed the full activation of the public and private hospital network in the affected areas, and the formation of a high operations room to manage rescue efforts.

Local media broadcast footage of injured people being pulled from the rubble of buildings in Caracas.

For his part, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced that Washington is working to mobilize medical aid and send search and rescue teams.

US President Donald Trump also expressed the United States' readiness to provide assistance to Venezuela following the two earthquakes, which he described as "massive," stressing that they resulted in a large number of victims.

Trump said he had instructed all U.S. government agencies to be ready to move quickly, adding: "We will be there for our new and great friends."

Rodriguez responded by thanking Trump for his support and assistance to her country in the aftermath of the disaster.