📅 June 25, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
Caracas, Venezuela Venezuela has been devastated by two powerful earthquakes that struck just seconds apart, causing widespread destruction across the country’s northern coast and the capital, Caracas. Rescue teams are continuing frantic search operations as hundreds of buildings have collapsed and thousands of people remain trapped beneath the rubble.
The first earthquake, measuring 7.2 magnitude, struck near Venezuela’s Caribbean coastline before a second, stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor followed just 39 seconds later, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The rare sequence of major earthquakes triggered severe shaking across several states, damaging homes, hospitals, highways, bridges and critical infrastructure.
Confirmed Deaths Continue To Rise
Venezuelan authorities have confirmed at least 164 deaths, while more than 970 people have been injured. Officials warned that the casualty count is expected to increase significantly as emergency crews continue searching collapsed buildings.
Thousands of residents have been forced to spend the night outdoors due to fears of powerful aftershocks, while rescue workers are using heavy machinery, drones and specially trained search dogs to locate survivors.
USGS Issues Red Alert
The USGS has issued its highest-level Red PAGER Alert, warning that the humanitarian impact could be catastrophic.
According to the agency’s rapid assessment model, there is a 44% probability that the final death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000 people, while there is also a 30% probability that fatalities could exceed 100,000 if the worst-case scenario unfolds.
The estimates are based on earthquake intensity, population exposure and the vulnerability of buildings in the affected region. Officials stressed that these figures are projections rather than confirmed casualties.
Buildings Reduced To Rubble
Entire residential neighbourhoods in Caracas and nearby coastal cities suffered extensive damage as apartment blocks, commercial buildings and public infrastructure collapsed.
Several hospitals have been partially damaged, forcing medical staff to treat patients in temporary emergency facilities. Power outages, broken water pipelines and disrupted mobile communication networks have complicated rescue operations.
Roads leading to several affected communities have also been damaged, slowing the movement of emergency teams and humanitarian supplies.
State Of Emergency Declared
The Venezuelan government has declared a nationwide state of emergency and deployed military personnel, firefighters, police units and civil defence teams to the disaster zone.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid damaged buildings and remain alert for aftershocks, which continue to shake the region.
Schools, government offices and many businesses remain closed while engineers assess the structural safety of public buildings.
International Aid Begins Arriving
Several countries and international humanitarian organisations have offered assistance, including urban search-and-rescue teams, emergency medical supplies, temporary shelters and food aid.
The United Nations and regional disaster response agencies are coordinating relief efforts as thousands of displaced families require immediate assistance.
One Of Venezuela’s Worst Earthquakes
Seismologists described the twin earthquakes as one of the most destructive seismic events to strike Venezuela in more than a century. The unusual occurrence of two major earthquakes within less than a minute dramatically increased the extent of structural damage across the affected region.
Rescue operations are expected to continue for several days, with officials warning that the full scale of the disaster may not be known until access is restored to remote communities.
As emergency workers race against time to find survivors, Venezuela now faces what could become one of the deadliest natural disasters in its modern history.
