188 dead, 1,500 injured in Venezuela earthquake disaster

At least 188 people have been killed and more than 1,500 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession, causing widespread destruction across the country’s northern region and triggering a major humanitarian emergency.

According to Venezuelan authorities, more than 200 people remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings, while rescue workers continue search-and-rescue operations in affected communities.

The earthquakes, which struck late on Wednesday, severely impacted the capital, Caracas, and the neighbouring coastal state of La Guaira, where dozens of buildings collapsed, the New York Times reported.

Officials said at least 250 structures were damaged, with more than 100 buildings reportedly destroyed in La Guaira alone.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez described the disaster as a tragedy, saying emergency responders were engaged in intensive rescue efforts across the affected areas.

The earthquakes disrupted critical infrastructure, causing power outages, burst water pipes and widespread communication challenges.

Parts of Caracas remained without electricity on Thursday, while water services were interrupted in several northern states.

In several locations, families and neighbours joined rescue efforts as they searched for loved ones trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Experts said the impact of the earthquakes was intensified because the two tremors occurred within a short period of each other and struck an area with geological conditions that amplified ground shaking.

The United States Geological Survey warned that many buildings in the affected region were constructed with materials highly vulnerable to earthquake damage, increasing the risk of collapse and contributing to the high casualty toll.

The hardest-hit areas included densely populated districts of Caracas and La Guaira, where residential towers, commercial buildings and homes were reduced to rubble.

Authorities also expressed concern about informal hillside settlements, where structures are often more vulnerable to seismic activity.