Venezuela Quake Emergency
Venezuela Hit by Twin Quakes, Emergency Declared Amid Widespread Damage and Aid Offers
Key Points
The first earthquake, magnitude 7.2, struck near San Felipe, about 284 km west of Caracas, at 22:04 GMT.
Venezuela’s main international airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, sustained significant damage and had operations suspended.
The tremors affected multiple states with residents fleeing into the streets in panic, and authorities announced that classes would be canceled for several days as damage was assessed.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social that the United States stands ready to help and instructed agencies to mobilize.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez cautioned the public and indicated casualty numbers had not yet been released five hours after the quakes.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in rapid succession on June 24, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700 others, according to Associated Press. The first quake, a magnitude 7.2, hit near San Felipe — about 284 km west of Caracas — at 22:04 GMT. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger magnitude 7.5 mainshock struck near Morón, making it the most powerful earthquake to hit Venezuela in over 125 years, Al Jazeera reported.
The USGS issued a "Red Alert" warning that the final death toll could reach between 10,000 and 100,000, The State reported. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency across seven states and urged calm. "We have a central and essential goal: to save lives in national unity," she said.
Twin Quakes Flatten Buildings and Shut Airport
The back-to-back tremors sent residents fleeing into the streets in panic across Caracas. Buildings collapsed in the Altamira and Los Palos Grandes neighborhoods. Simón Bolívar International Airport sustained major roof damage and suspended all operations, effectively isolating the capital, Airways Magazine reported. The Caracas subway and gas lines were also shut down.
Authorities canceled classes for several days while rescue teams assessed the damage. Seven states were hit: Yaracuy, La Guaira, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Falcón, and the capital district. Rodríguez warned that casualty numbers from the La Guaira "disaster zone" had not yet been tallied — meaning the official death count of 32 is expected to rise sharply, according to BSS News.
Modi Offers India's Full Help as World Leaders Respond
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the disaster and pledged support. "India stands ready to extend all possible assistance," Modi said, adding, "We pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," according to ETV Bharat. Indian media framed the offer as part of Modi's "Vishwa Mitra" — or Global Friend — foreign policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump also responded quickly, posting on Truth Social roughly four hours after the quakes. "The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly," Trump wrote, Forbes reported. El Salvador sent 300 rescuers and 50 tons of equipment, according to QNA.
Venezuela's Fragile Recovery Now Faces a Catastrophic Setback
The quakes struck along the Boconó–Morón–El Pilar Fault System, the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. Experts compared the destruction to the 1967 Caracas earthquake — which also collapsed buildings in Altamira — but noted this event was far more powerful, India's News reported.
The USGS estimates economic losses could equal 2% to 20% of Venezuela's GDP — a devastating blow for a country that had only recently begun showing signs of recovery. Before the quakes, 7.9 million people in Venezuela already needed humanitarian aid, according to the Red Cross. The disaster is now a direct test for acting President Rodríguez's young interim government.
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