Latest update June 25th, 2026 9:38 AM
Venezuela Declares State of Emergency as Twin Quakes Flatten Buildings, Thousands Feared Dead
Venezuela’s Interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, has declared a nationwide state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck in rapid succession, devastating Caracas and several other cities across the country.
Thousands are feared dead after multiple high-rise buildings collapsed, trapping scores of residents beneath the rubble and triggering a massive search-and-rescue effort.
In a national address, Rodriguez announced the closure of schools for the remainder of the week and said all public and private healthcare facilities have been placed on emergency footing to treat the growing number of injured, particularly in the hardest-hit areas.
People look at a collapsed building in the Altamira neighbourhood after twin earthquakes struck Caracas and surrounding towns.
Photograph: Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
She extended condolences to families affected by the disaster and appealed for public cooperation.
“De igual manera queremos pedir la mayor colaboración de la población” (“Similarly, we want to ask for the greatest cooperation from the population”), she said.
The interim president urged residents to immediately evacuate buildings that suffered structural damage and warned against returning until safety assessments are completed.
Rodriguez said teams are currently conducting evaluations of the widespread destruction to critical infrastructure and residential buildings.
“Pedimos calma a nuestra población, pedimos unidad” (“We ask our people for calm and unity”), she stated.
She assured citizens that government agencies and military personnel are being deployed to affected areas to assist with rescue operations, emergency relief and recovery efforts.
Rodriguez also thanked several countries that have pledged support and expressed solidarity with Venezuela, including the United States, Panama, Qatar, Turkey, Cuba, Nicaragua, Jordan, Curaçao, Barbados, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Mexico.
She further called on doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to report to emergency centres and hospitals as casualties continue to pour into healthcare facilities nationwide.
Venezuela was rocked by back-to-back earthquakes late Wednesday, with the first measuring 7.2 in magnitude near San Felipe, approximately 284 kilometres west of Caracas. It was followed moments later by a stronger 7.5 magnitude quake near Yumare, about 293 kilometres west of the capital, according to the US Geological Survey.
The twin earthquakes levelled buildings, crippled infrastructure and sparked fears that the death toll could rise dramatically as rescue crews race to reach survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
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