Rescuers race to find survivors as Venezuela reels from massive quakes: Everything we know so far

ByHarry SekulichPublished25 June 2026, 03:33 BSTUpdated 44 minutes agoByJoel GuintoFigure caption, Watch: Moment earthquake hits Venezuela and leaves buildings collapsedTwo powerful earthquakes shook the Venezuelan capital of Caracas seconds apart, with the second quake - a magnitude 7.5 - one of the strongest tremors to hit the South American country in a century. Buildings collapsed and residents rushed to the streets for safety as the quakes struck.

Venezeula's interim president Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency and said airport, rail and transport services have been paused.There are fears of casualties and extensive damage but there is no information on either at this point. Rescuers are racing to find survivors who may be trapped under rubble.

Here's what we know so far.Where and when did the quakes hit?Both earthquakes shook Venezuela's populous capital city of Caracas around 18:04 local time (22:04 GMT).

The first was magnitude 7.2 and struck the state of Yaracuy, west of Caracas, at a depth of 22km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) monitoring agency. Thity-nine seconds later, a stronger magnitude 7.

5 earthquake struck nearby at a depth of about 10km.The epicentres were both outside the capital, but were felt strongly across the city, with buildings shaking and some collapsing. Tremors were felt as far away as the Colombian capital Bogotá, more than 1,000 km (630 miles) away.

More than 20 aftershocks have since been felt across Venezuela, largely affecting the country's northern coastline, including La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón.The quakes hit while the country was celebrating a national holiday, commemorating the 1821 Battle of Carabobo, a decisive victory by Venezuelan independence leader Simón Bolívar against the Spanish colonial power. Powerful back-to-back earthquakes strike Venezuela, collapsing buildings in CaracasWhat damage was caused?

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, Rescuers search for survivors the ruins of a building in Caracas, Venezuela. The full extent of the damage is still to be assessed, but photos and videos show debris strewn on the streets, while rescuers dig through the rubble of collapsed buildings to locate survivors.In some footage, people can be heard calling for help.

President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, which allows extra resources and personnel to be used for recovery efforts. In an address to the nation, she expressed her "immediate condolences" to those killed in the quakes, although she did not specify how many people had died.The mayor of Chacao, Gustavo Duque Saez, told reporters that at least two buildings in this municipality - which forms part of the greater metropolitan area of Caracas - have completely collapsed.

He said 18 people had been rescued alive and that more than 500 emergency workers were on site trying to pull out more residents.The country's interior ministry has urged people to leave their homes over concerns of building stability and gas lines possibly being affected. Fuel supplies into the city have been cut off and internet blackouts have also been reported.

Venezuela's main international airport, Maiquetía airport – located on the outskirts of Caracas – has also been closed due to earthquake damage.Metro and train services across the country were paused, Rodríguez told Venezuelans in an address on state TV.Classes would also be suspended for the remainder of the week, she added.

What is the earthquake death toll?Although Rodríguez and other officials have made references to people who were killed in the quake, we still don't have any officially confirmed casualty numbers.US president Donald Trump mentioned a "devastating number of deaths" in a post on Truth Social although he did not provide a figure either.

Emergency crews and officials are still working to rescue anyone trapped under rubble. Even so, the area where the quakes struck is particularly vulnerable, the USGS noted. The agency stated many buildings in the area are made of reinforced brick masonry and adobe blocks and the sheer force of the shaking made it likely there was a high chance of destroyed buildings and deaths.

The USGS said there was a 36% chance that the death toll could hit up to 10,000 and a 40% chance it could go reach as many as 100,000. 'I saw the windows moving' - Venezuelans describe panic as tremors hitPublished2 hours agoHow have the US and other countries responded?US President Donald Trump said Washington was "ready, willing and able" to help, adding he had instructed government agencies to "move quickly".

"We will be there for our new and great friends," Trump said on Truth Social, adding that "early reports are not good".Venezuela's Latin American neighbours have also offered aid.El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said his country prepared 50 tonnes of equipment and supplies, as well as 300 rescuers who are "ready to depart for Caracas".

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azin said he arranged for