Venezuela earthquakes: ‘intensive’ search for survivors as death toll rises to 164 – latest updates
At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured in Venezuela after the country was hit by two powerful earthquakes, acting president Delcy Rodríguez said.
The latest figures mark a sharp increase from an earlier reported toll of 32 dead and 700 injured. Authorities fear the numbers could rise further as rescue efforts continue.
Yesterday’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.
Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to the hardest-hit La Guaira area, which sits north of the capital Caracas.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.
Key events1h agoPope sends emergency aid of 100,000 euros to Venezuela3h agoMore than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira - UN4h agoUS providing ‘big, fast, effective’ support to Venezuela, says Rubio5h agoHave you been affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela?5h agoUK offers assistance to Venezuela in condolence message6h agoAt least 164 people killed and 971 injured in earthquakes, Venezuela interim leader says7h agoVenezuela earthquake the most powerful to hit the country since 1900 - USGS8h ago'Like a horror movie': survivors describe moment of terror and destruction as earthquakes hit9h agoVenezuela interim leader speaks to Rubio on the phone9h agoWorld leaders offer condolences and support10h agoSummary11h agoAt least 32 killed and 700 injured in quakes – Rodríguez12h agoFirst reports of casualties12h agoTrump says "devastating number of deaths" in Venezuela14h agoWorst affected: Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón14h agoState of emergency declared, damaged Caracas airport closed15h agoVenezuela suffered 'doublet' earthquake event, USGS says15h agoDelcy Rodríguez to address nation15h agoInternational airport in Caracas damaged: report16h agoWelcome
Key events
1h ago
Pope sends emergency aid of 100,000 euros to Venezuela
3h ago
More than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira - UN
4h ago
US providing ‘big, fast, effective’ support to Venezuela, says Rubio
5h ago
Have you been affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela?
5h ago
UK offers assistance to Venezuela in condolence message
6h ago
At least 164 people killed and 971 injured in earthquakes, Venezuela interim leader says
7h ago
Venezuela earthquake the most powerful to hit the country since 1900 - USGS
8h ago
'Like a horror movie': survivors describe moment of terror and destruction as earthquakes hit
9h ago
Venezuela interim leader speaks to Rubio on the phone
9h ago
World leaders offer condolences and support
10h ago
Summary
11h ago
At least 32 killed and 700 injured in quakes – Rodríguez
12h ago
First reports of casualties
12h ago
Trump says "devastating number of deaths" in Venezuela
14h ago
Worst affected: Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón
14h ago
State of emergency declared, damaged Caracas airport closed
15h ago
Venezuela suffered 'doublet' earthquake event, USGS says
15h ago
Delcy Rodríguez to address nation
15h ago
International airport in Caracas damaged: report
16h ago
Welcome
Here is the terrifying scene at Maiquetia airport in Venezuela when one of the earthquakes struck:
Jane Clinton
Nelson Hidalgo, 38, who lives on the first floor of a 13-storey building in Maracay, a city in north-central Venezuela, about 109 km (68 miles) south west of Caracas, says he was trying to help his mother down the stairs when the second earthquake struck.
“I was with my mother and her carer, and we just tried to rush downstairs, but my mother has reduced mobility,” he said. “During the second earthquake, we were going down the stairs, and the wall started collapsing, it felt like a movie.”
Hidalgo, who is a mechanical engineer, says they left their home in such haste that he was barefoot. They stayed at their mother’s carer’s home, which suffered no damage.
He returned to the building on Thursday to get some basic belongings, but he is not sure to what extent the building is damaged.
“My building has suffered; we still don’t know if the damage is just superficial or structural,” he said. “We are just worried, especially for the people in La Guaira.”
The Vatican announced on Thursday that Pope Leo XIV has sent emergency aid of 100,000 euros ($114,000) to Venezuela as it reels in the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes, AFP reports.
The funds come from the apostolic almonry, an office at the Vatican responsible for the pope’s charity and aid to populations in difficulty.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil expressed his country’s “determination” to support the government of Venezuela in its recovery efforts.
Lula said on X that he had instructed Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the situation in Venezuela “and to evaluate what assistance measures Brazil might adopt.”
“I reaffirm our determination to support the government of acting-president Delcy Rodríguez in the recovery of affected areas in this sister nation, whose people have demonstrated great resilience in the face of adversity,” he wrote.
A view of the remains of a building damaged by earthquakes that hit Caracas, Venezuela, today.
The head of the UN’s humanitarian agency, Tom Fletcher, said the organisation is “fully mobilised” to provide assistance in Venezuela, adding that “the coming days will require a massive collective effort to support the government-led response and help communities”.
In a statement, he said:
double quotation markEven before these earthquakes, nearly 8 million people in Venezuela were in need of humanitarian support. This disaster risks deepening existing vulnerabilities.
Sustained international support for humanitarian organizations responding on the ground is essential and urgent.”
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) reported more than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a small coastal state north of Caracas that was hardest hit by the earthquakes.
The level of devastation is overwhelming local authorities, Ocha said in its latest disaster response report, designating the affected area as a priority for international rescue teams.
It said: “Although the scale of casualties and humanitarian needs remains unclear it is clear the damage was severe. La Guaira state where the main airport is located has been declared a disaster zone. Early reporting indicates that casualties could be significant and further aftershocks are possible.”
The Netherlands said it would be sending a team of rescue workers to help Venezuela, after the country was struck by its strongest earthquake in more than a century.
“The needs are immense,” foreign trade minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said in a statement, announcing 2m euro aid package to deploy a search and rescue team that includes rescue workers and dogs and equipment.
Iran said it was ready to help with rescue and relief operations after Venezuela was struck by its strongest earthquake in more than a century.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a statement “announced Iran’s readiness to provide any assistance required in relief and rescue operations”, while expressing “solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela”.
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said Washington will provide a “whole-of-government” response to the earthquakes in Venezuela, AFP reports.
“So we have a whole-of-government response. It’ll be big, it’ll be fast, and it’ll be effective,” he told reporters during a visit to Bahrain, saying the US defence department would play a “big logistical role”.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed solidarity with Venezuela after two earthquakes struck the country.
“I sincerely share the grief of those who lost their lives in the two separate earthquakes that struck Venezuela, and I extend my condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery to the friendly people and government of Venezuela, wishing urgent healing to the injured,” he said in a post on X.
Erdoğan added: “As Türkiye, we stand by our Venezuelan friends in these painful and difficult days.”
His message reflects Turkey’s own experience with devastating natural disasters in recent years, particularly the February 2023 earthquakes that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria, killing tens of thousands of people and causing widespread destruction.
Here are some of the latest images from Venezuela this morning:
We would like to hear from people in Venezuela who have been affected by the earthquakes. How are you coping? What help are you receiving?
Please note that while we’d like to hear from you, your security is most important. We recognise it may not always be safe or appropriate to record or share your experiences – so please think about this when considering whether to get in touch with the Guardian.
To share your experience, click on the link below:
UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper joins a long list of global figures offering support and solidarity to Venezuela.
In a post on X, she said:
double quotation mark My thoughts are with those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.
We are working with partners to assess the needs & help with the global response.
British nationals should follow local authority advice & check FCDO travel advice pages for latest info.”
At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured in Venezuela after the country was hit by two powerful earthquakes, acting president Delcy Rodríguez said.
The latest figures mark a sharp increase from an earlier reported toll of 32 dead and 700 injured. Authorities fear the numbers could rise further as rescue efforts continue.
Yesterday’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.
Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to the hardest-hit La Guaira area, which sits north of the capital Caracas.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.
The UN has urged the Venezuelan government to lift restrictions on websites to help people access information, saying it could be “a matter of life and death”.
The Venezuelan government has blocked independent news sites and communications platforms, particularly during periods of political unrest and contested elections, with digital rights activists arguing that censorship is used as a tool of state control to restrict access to information and limit dissent.
In a statement, the UN fact-finding mission to Venezuela said:
double quotation markWe stand with all Venezuelans at this difficult time. For a country already facing enormous challenges this is a devasting blow.
It is crucial that a full commitment to human rights guide all aspects of the national and international response to this immense tragedy.
As a critical first step, it is vital that CONATEL, the country’s telecommunications regulator, fully unblock access to social media and all media outlets.
In the coming hours and days, access to information will be a matter of life and death. There can be no excuse for failing to do so immediately.”
The EU said it has activated its Copernicus satellite programme to aid Venezuela’s recovery efforts. According to the EU, Copernicus data “can support preparedness and prevention by providing data that helps to identify risks and prevent loss of lives and damages”.
“My condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Venezuela,” Hadja Lahbib, the EU commissioner for humanitarian aid, wrote on X.
“We are following the situation with our field staff and partners there. EU-funded partners are already providing help on the ground, Copernicus is activated & we stand ready to step up assistance.”
The death toll of at least 32 people and injuries of more than 700 does not include victims in the hardest-hit La Guaira area, which lies near the capital Caracas and has been designated a disaster zone, AFP reports.
The coastal city of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state was without electricity, and many people spent the night in the streets or searched for people among the rubble.
“We have nothing, right now we have nothing, not even the strength or the courage to go in there, just imagine,” Larry Rojas, 49, told AFP, standing in front of a collapsed building Catia la Mar where he said his family was trapped.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Venezuela experienced two major earthquakes yesterday with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, among the strongest recorded in the country for over a century. The confirmed death toll stands at 164 with 971 injured, a significant increase from initial reports. La Guaira, a coastal region north of Caracas, sustained the heaviest damage with more than 100 building collapses and has been declared a disaster zone. Rescue operations are underway with authorities redistributing rescue teams to affected areas. The government has declared a state of emergency. International assistance is being coordinated by multiple countries and organisations including the United States, Netherlands, Brazil, the Vatican, UN agencies, and the European Union, with rescue teams, funding, and humanitarian support being deployed. The UN has urged the government to restore access to blocked communications platforms to facilitate information flow during the emergency response.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured in Venezuela after the country was hit by two powerful earthquakes, acting president Delcy Rodríguez said.
The latest figures mark a sharp increase from an earlier reported toll of 32 dead and 700 injured. Authorities fear the numbers could rise further as rescue efforts continue.
Yesterday’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.
Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to the hardest-hit La Guaira area, which sits north of the capital Caracas.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.
Key events1h agoPope sends emergency aid of 100,000 euros to Venezuela3h agoMore than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira - UN4h agoUS providing ‘big, fast, effective’ support to Venezuela, says Rubio5h agoHave you been affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela?5h agoUK offers assistance to Venezuela in condolence message6h agoAt least 164 people killed and 971 injured in earthquakes, Venezuela interim leader says7h agoVenezuela earthquake the most powerful to hit the country since 1900 - USGS8h ago'Like a horror movie': survivors describe moment of terror and destruction as earthquakes hit9h agoVenezuela interim leader speaks to Rubio on the phone9h agoWorld leaders offer condolences and support10h agoSummary11h agoAt least 32 killed and 700 injured in quakes – Rodríguez12h agoFirst reports of casualties12h agoTrump says "devastating number of deaths" in Venezuela14h agoWorst affected: Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón14h agoState of emergency declared, damaged Caracas airport closed15h agoVenezuela suffered 'doublet' earthquake event, USGS says15h agoDelcy Rodríguez to address nation15h agoInternational airport in Caracas damaged: report16h agoWelcome
Key events
1h ago
Pope sends emergency aid of 100,000 euros to Venezuela
3h ago
More than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira - UN
4h ago
US providing ‘big, fast, effective’ support to Venezuela, says Rubio
5h ago
Have you been affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela?
5h ago
UK offers assistance to Venezuela in condolence message
6h ago
At least 164 people killed and 971 injured in earthquakes, Venezuela interim leader says
7h ago
Venezuela earthquake the most powerful to hit the country since 1900 - USGS
8h ago
'Like a horror movie': survivors describe moment of terror and destruction as earthquakes hit
9h ago
Venezuela interim leader speaks to Rubio on the phone
9h ago
World leaders offer condolences and support
10h ago
Summary
11h ago
At least 32 killed and 700 injured in quakes – Rodríguez
12h ago
First reports of casualties
12h ago
Trump says "devastating number of deaths" in Venezuela
14h ago
Worst affected: Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón
14h ago
State of emergency declared, damaged Caracas airport closed
15h ago
Venezuela suffered 'doublet' earthquake event, USGS says
15h ago
Delcy Rodríguez to address nation
15h ago
International airport in Caracas damaged: report
16h ago
Welcome
Here is the terrifying scene at Maiquetia airport in Venezuela when one of the earthquakes struck:
Jane Clinton
Nelson Hidalgo, 38, who lives on the first floor of a 13-storey building in Maracay, a city in north-central Venezuela, about 109 km (68 miles) south west of Caracas, says he was trying to help his mother down the stairs when the second earthquake struck.
“I was with my mother and her carer, and we just tried to rush downstairs, but my mother has reduced mobility,” he said. “During the second earthquake, we were going down the stairs, and the wall started collapsing, it felt like a movie.”
Hidalgo, who is a mechanical engineer, says they left their home in such haste that he was barefoot. They stayed at their mother’s carer’s home, which suffered no damage.
He returned to the building on Thursday to get some basic belongings, but he is not sure to what extent the building is damaged.
“My building has suffered; we still don’t know if the damage is just superficial or structural,” he said. “We are just worried, especially for the people in La Guaira.”
The Vatican announced on Thursday that Pope Leo XIV has sent emergency aid of 100,000 euros ($114,000) to Venezuela as it reels in the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes, AFP reports.
The funds come from the apostolic almonry, an office at the Vatican responsible for the pope’s charity and aid to populations in difficulty.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil expressed his country’s “determination” to support the government of Venezuela in its recovery efforts.
Lula said on X that he had instructed Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the situation in Venezuela “and to evaluate what assistance measures Brazil might adopt.”
“I reaffirm our determination to support the government of acting-president Delcy Rodríguez in the recovery of affected areas in this sister nation, whose people have demonstrated great resilience in the face of adversity,” he wrote.
A view of the remains of a building damaged by earthquakes that hit Caracas, Venezuela, today.
The head of the UN’s humanitarian agency, Tom Fletcher, said the organisation is “fully mobilised” to provide assistance in Venezuela, adding that “the coming days will require a massive collective effort to support the government-led response and help communities”.
In a statement, he said:
double quotation markEven before these earthquakes, nearly 8 million people in Venezuela were in need of humanitarian support. This disaster risks deepening existing vulnerabilities.
Sustained international support for humanitarian organizations responding on the ground is essential and urgent.”
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) reported more than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a small coastal state north of Caracas that was hardest hit by the earthquakes.
The level of devastation is overwhelming local authorities, Ocha said in its latest disaster response report, designating the affected area as a priority for international rescue teams.
It said: “Although the scale of casualties and humanitarian needs remains unclear it is clear the damage was severe. La Guaira state where the main airport is located has been declared a disaster zone. Early reporting indicates that casualties could be significant and further aftershocks are possible.”
The Netherlands said it would be sending a team of rescue workers to help Venezuela, after the country was struck by its strongest earthquake in more than a century.
“The needs are immense,” foreign trade minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said in a statement, announcing 2m euro aid package to deploy a search and rescue team that includes rescue workers and dogs and equipment.
Iran said it was ready to help with rescue and relief operations after Venezuela was struck by its strongest earthquake in more than a century.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a statement “announced Iran’s readiness to provide any assistance required in relief and rescue operations”, while expressing “solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela”.
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said Washington will provide a “whole-of-government” response to the earthquakes in Venezuela, AFP reports.
“So we have a whole-of-government response. It’ll be big, it’ll be fast, and it’ll be effective,” he told reporters during a visit to Bahrain, saying the US defence department would play a “big logistical role”.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed solidarity with Venezuela after two earthquakes struck the country.
“I sincerely share the grief of those who lost their lives in the two separate earthquakes that struck Venezuela, and I extend my condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery to the friendly people and government of Venezuela, wishing urgent healing to the injured,” he said in a post on X.
Erdoğan added: “As Türkiye, we stand by our Venezuelan friends in these painful and difficult days.”
His message reflects Turkey’s own experience with devastating natural disasters in recent years, particularly the February 2023 earthquakes that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria, killing tens of thousands of people and causing widespread destruction.
Here are some of the latest images from Venezuela this morning:
We would like to hear from people in Venezuela who have been affected by the earthquakes. How are you coping? What help are you receiving?
Please note that while we’d like to hear from you, your security is most important. We recognise it may not always be safe or appropriate to record or share your experiences – so please think about this when considering whether to get in touch with the Guardian.
To share your experience, click on the link below:
UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper joins a long list of global figures offering support and solidarity to Venezuela.
In a post on X, she said:
double quotation mark My thoughts are with those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.
We are working with partners to assess the needs & help with the global response.
British nationals should follow local authority advice & check FCDO travel advice pages for latest info.”
At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured in Venezuela after the country was hit by two powerful earthquakes, acting president Delcy Rodríguez said.
The latest figures mark a sharp increase from an earlier reported toll of 32 dead and 700 injured. Authorities fear the numbers could rise further as rescue efforts continue.
Yesterday’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.
Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to the hardest-hit La Guaira area, which sits north of the capital Caracas.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.
The UN has urged the Venezuelan government to lift restrictions on websites to help people access information, saying it could be “a matter of life and death”.
The Venezuelan government has blocked independent news sites and communications platforms, particularly during periods of political unrest and contested elections, with digital rights activists arguing that censorship is used as a tool of state control to restrict access to information and limit dissent.
In a statement, the UN fact-finding mission to Venezuela said:
double quotation markWe stand with all Venezuelans at this difficult time. For a country already facing enormous challenges this is a devasting blow.
It is crucial that a full commitment to human rights guide all aspects of the national and international response to this immense tragedy.
As a critical first step, it is vital that CONATEL, the country’s telecommunications regulator, fully unblock access to social media and all media outlets.
In the coming hours and days, access to information will be a matter of life and death. There can be no excuse for failing to do so immediately.”
The EU said it has activated its Copernicus satellite programme to aid Venezuela’s recovery efforts. According to the EU, Copernicus data “can support preparedness and prevention by providing data that helps to identify risks and prevent loss of lives and damages”.
“My condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Venezuela,” Hadja Lahbib, the EU commissioner for humanitarian aid, wrote on X.
“We are following the situation with our field staff and partners there. EU-funded partners are already providing help on the ground, Copernicus is activated & we stand ready to step up assistance.”
The death toll of at least 32 people and injuries of more than 700 does not include victims in the hardest-hit La Guaira area, which lies near the capital Caracas and has been designated a disaster zone, AFP reports.
The coastal city of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state was without electricity, and many people spent the night in the streets or searched for people among the rubble.
“We have nothing, right now we have nothing, not even the strength or the courage to go in there, just imagine,” Larry Rojas, 49, told AFP, standing in front of a collapsed building Catia la Mar where he said his family was trapped.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Venezuela yesterday At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured These were among the strongest earthquakes to strike Venezuela in more than a century La Guaira, north of Caracas, was the hardest-hit area More than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira La Guaira has been designated a disaster zone Venezuela declared a state of emergency Authorities are conducting intensive rescue operations The death toll rose sharply from an initial report of 32 dead and 700 injured Authorities fear numbers could rise further as rescue efforts continue The Caracas airport was damaged and closed Multiple countries and organisations have pledged aid, including the US, Netherlands, Brazil, the Vatican, and UN agencies The UN called on Venezuela to unblock restricted websites to help access critical information during the emergency This disaster risks deepening existing vulnerabilities for the nearly 8 million people already in need of humanitarian support in Venezuela
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Venezuela, the strongest in over a century, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971
- La Guaira, a coastal area north of Caracas, was hardest hit with over 100 buildings collapsed and designated a disaster zone
- Venezuela declared a state of emergency; rescue operations are ongoing with international aid mobilising from multiple countries including the US, Netherlands, Brazil, and the UN
- Death toll has risen sharply from initial reports of 32 dead, with authorities warning numbers may increase as rescue efforts continue
- The UN has called on Venezuela to unblock restricted websites and communications platforms to help survivors access critical information