Here's the latest
• Back-to-back earthquakes: A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake has struck near the northern coast of Venezuela, collapsing homes and buildings in the capital, Caracas, and causing widespread destruction. It happened just 40 seconds after a foreshock with a magnitude of 7.2 rocked the area.
• Race to rescue victims: Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has confirmed fatalities and declared a state of emergency. Hundreds of emergency workers are working to find and rescue victims.
• Capital in crisis: A Caracas resident who survived a quake that hit the capital in 1967 said today’s quakes were unlike anything he has experienced before. Another Caracas resident who escaped a damaged building said “the scene was like a horror movie.”
• No tsunami threat: The US Tsunami Warning Centers said there is no tsunami threat, canceling an advisory that warned of potentially dangerous waves for areas including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• Sigue nuestra cobertura en español de los terremotos en Venezuela
US sending search-and-rescue teams and emergency supplies to Venezuela, officials say
The US has expressed solidarity with Venezuelans as it pledged to send rescue teams and humanitarian supplies to the South American country following two powerful earthquakes.
Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance Jeremy Lewin said the State Department is working with partners in Venezuela’s interim government.
“The U.S. will be sending search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the crucial first days after this tragic natural disaster,” he said.
“The US stands with the Venezuelan people in the aftermath of this evening’s devastating earthquakes,” US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X Wednesday.
“May God bless our Venezuelan friends at this difficult moment,” he said, adding: “¡Fuerza Venezuela! ¡Estamos con Ustedes!”
All personnel at the US Embassy in Caracas have been accounted for, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said
From prison in the US, ousted Venezuelan President Maduro sends message of solidarity
Ousted President Nicolas Maduro has expressed his solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the wake of Wednesday’s deadly earthquakes, according to a post on his official Telegram channel.
Maduro and his wife are currently in federal custody in New York, where they are facing drug trafficking and weapons charges, after they were captured from their presidential compound in Caracas in early January by US forces.
“Let no one be left alone, let each community take care of their children, their grandparents, their sick,” Maduro said in the Telegram post, urging people to support the work of rescue and medical teams.
“Venezuela has faced great trials, and we will come out of this one strong too, with faith, discipline, and solidarity,” said the post.
This is where back-to-back quakes rocked Venezuela's northern coast
Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes within a minute of each other on Wednesday.
A magnitude 7.2 foreshock took place near San Felipe, the capital city of Yaracuy state, just after 6:04 p.m. ET. Just 40 seconds later, it was followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake, 23 kilometers (about 14 miles) southeast of Yumare – a town also in Yaracuy state.
"Never seen anything like it": Caracas resident says today's quakes much stronger than the one in 1967
Manuel Guevara Baro told CNN that the earthquakes that struck Caracas on Wednesday were “horrible” and unlike anything he has experienced before in Venezuela’s capital.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed there have been fatalities in a national address, but did not give any numbers. The earthquake of 1967 had a magnitude of 6.3 and caused widespread damage, according to the USGS. More than 200 people were killed and 2,000 were injured, according to Venezuela’s Foundation on Seismic Investigations.
Guevara Baro, who lives on the 9th floor of a building in the district of Los Palos Grandes, said he was reading a book when the earthquakes struck. His surroundings were shaking so strongly and intensely that he could not grab anything around him.
“I could not even walk because of the intensity of the movement,” Guevara Baro told CNN, also noting that the earthquakes seemed to last for a very long time.
Once he thought things had calmed down, he put on his shoes and decided to try to escape down the stairs of his building. The hallways were dark as the electricity had gone and water was falling due to broken plumbing.
Guevera Baro and other neighbors went down the stairs, little by little, until they escaped outside with other people.
He said there were at least two buildings that collapsed in his neighborhood and many others were damaged.
“It was truly horrible, terrifying,” he said.
What's worrying experts in Venezuela after the quake
With an earthquake this powerful, the most immediate threat is the collapse of buildings and other structures.
Dr. Lucy Jones, Caltech seismologist, warns that, in densely populated areas, strong shaking can also spark fires by rupturing gas lines or damaging electrical systems. At the same time, broken water mains can leave firefighters without the water they need to contain the blazes.
These cascading impacts can make the disaster far worse, with fires sometimes doubling the economic losses from a major earthquake.
Why accessing information is so difficult in Venezuela
Venezuela has one of the most restricted media landscapes in the world, making it difficult for residents or concerned loved ones abroad to gain information about damage or casualties from the earthquakes.
The country is ranked 159 out of 180 on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index.
Under former authoritarian president Nicolás Maduro, journalists were routinely harassed, beaten and jailed for their work. While many political prisoners, including journalists, have been freed since Delcy Rodriguez came to power following Maduro’s capture by the US, widespread censorship persists.
More than 200 websites were blocked in Venezuela, 65 of which belonged to media outlets, according to March update by VE Sin Filtro, a Venezuelan organization that monitors internet freedom. The blackout affects local and international news, social media sites including X, Reddit and Signal, and censorship circumvention tools like VPNs, according to VE Sin Filtro.
However, some of these blockades have been partially lifted in recent weeks, as Rodriguez has eased restrictions on an on-and-off basis.
Opposition politician Edmundo González, who has been living in exile since the disputed 2024 presidential election, lamented what he called “the systematic and prolonged blocking of information” in Venezuela after the earthquakes.
“Venezuelans from outside cannot know if their families are well. Those inside don’t understand the magnitude of what happened. Uncertainty becomes another layer of anguish, and it is not the fall of a network: it is the systematic and prolonged blocking of information that Venezuelans have to live with,” González said.
“What is known is only thanks to journalists who are on the streets with their own cellphone and their own data, determined to tell about what they see.”
Internet connectivity across Venezuela affected by earthquakes
Internet connectivity has dropped sharply across Venezuela, including in the capital Caracas, after earthquakes damaged power and telecommunications infrastructure, according to watchdog NetBlocks.
It is unclear whether widespread power outages have also hit affected regions.
The connectivity disruptions may also affect the availability of information and video coming out of hotspots in the coming hours.
Venezuela declares state of emergency, confirms fatalities after earthquakes
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency after the country suffered back-to-back powerful earthquakes on Wednesday.
In a televised speech, Rodríguez confirmed there had been fatalities, without specifying how many people may have died, and announced a high-level task force to oversee search and rescue operations.
Maiquetía International Airport, which services the capital Caracas, has been closed due to “severe damage to its infrastructure,” Rodríguez added.
Classes nationwide have been suspended for the rest of the week, while rail services and activities deemed non-essential have also been temporarily canceled.
Several buildings are known to have collapsed in Caracas. The states of Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón were also affected, with some areas reporting power failures.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Emergency crews seen pulling person from rubble of collapsed building
Rescue teams are rushing to find people trapped under collapsed buildings and structures in Venezuela following the powerful back-to-back earthquakes.
Video shows emergency responders pulling a person from the rubble of a building in the capital Caracas. Teams can be seen stretchering the person into a waiting ambulance in video from Reuters news agency.
Latin American governments express solidarity with Venezuela
Solidarity and condolences have begun to pour in from Latin American governments following Wednesday’s powerful twin earthquakes in Venezuela.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said in a statement to X: “Our hearts are with the people of Venezuela during these difficult times. We send them our full solidarity and our prayers.”
Mexico’s foreign ministry said on X it “expresses all its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and deeply regrets the damages and effects caused.”
Brazil’s government expressed “solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela and wished the wounded a speedy recovery” in a statement from its ministry of foreign affairs.
Bolivia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent its “support for the brother people of Venezuela” in a post to X. Bolivia sent “its most sincere wishes for the speedy recovery of the affected people, as well as the restoration of the areas impacted by this disaster.”
Costa Rica said it “embraces the Venezuelan people with all our heart” in a post to X from President Laura Fernández’s office. “Our solidarity is with each affected family and with those who work today to save lives and rebuild hope.”
The government of Chile expressed solidarity with Venezuela and “willingness to provide humanitarian and rescue aid” in a post to X.
German Padinger contributed to this post.
What we know about the back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela
A state of emergency has been declared after Venezuela’s northern coast was hit by two powerful earthquakes within a minute of each other on Wednesday, collapsing buildings and sending residents fleeing onto the street.
The US Geological Survey warned that the successive quakes could cause thousands of casualties and widespread damage, though the extent of their impact is not yet clear, as emergency responders and security forces deploy nationwide.
Here’s what we know so far:
- What happened: A magnitude 7.2 foreshock took place near San Felipe, the capital city of Yaracuy state, just after 6:04 p.m. ET. Just 40 seconds later, it was followed by a larger 7.5-magnitude quake, some 23 kilometers (about 14 miles) southeast of Yumare – a town also in Yaracuy state.
- State of emergency: Venezuela has declared a state of emergency, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said in a national address on Wednesday night. She confirmed there have been fatalities, but did not give any numbers.
- Extensive damage: Multiple videos geolocated by CNN show extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure across Venezuela, including in the capital Caracas and the coastal town of Catia La Mar, where several collapsed buildings were seen on a hillside. Terrified residents evacuated buildings with their loved ones and pets before gathering in the street, video shows.
- USGS warning: The US Geological Survey issued two separate red alerts through its PAGER system, warning: “High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response.”
- Public holiday: Wednesday was a public holiday, celebrating St. John the Baptist as well as commemorating the country’s independence from Spain – meaning many people may have been home or at public events.
- National response: Security forces have been deployed across Venezuela given the risk of “many structures” collapsing, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information. In the municipality of Chacao in Caracas, more than 500 personnel are working to rescue residents, with gas shut off and many areas now without power, according to the mayor. Caracas International Airport is currently closed.
- No tsunami threat: There is no ongoing tsunami threat, according to the US Tsunami Warning Centers, which canceled its previous tsunami warning for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and coasts within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter.
Why were there so many earthquakes around the world today?
Three earthquakes with powerful magnitudes rattled different parts of the world on the same day – Japan (6.9), Venezuela (7.5 and 7.2) and California in the US (5.6). This raises the obvious question: are they connected?
In short, no, says Caltech Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones.
The earthquakes occurred on separate fault systems and plate boundaries, meaning one did not trigger the others. Jones says large earthquakes thousands of miles apart generally do not increase the likelihood of another major quake elsewhere.
The timing may be coincidental, but the locations are not. Each earthquake struck along well-known active plate boundaries where stress has been building for decades or even centuries. In those regions, large earthquakes are an expected part of the natural cycle, even if predicting exactly when one will occur remains impossible.
Escaping damaged building was "like a horror movie," Caracas resident says
A Caracas resident recounted her frightening escape from a damaged building after back-to-back quakes rocked the northern coast of Venezuela.
Maria Alejandra, who didn’t give her family name, said all the walls to the room she was in were cracked and they had to pry open a door to get out.
“We had to climb over the rubble and everything. The building superintendent with the baby and all the neighbors coming down. But from that building, I only saw that one family got out,” she said
US Embassy in Venezuela issues alert to Americans
The US Embassy in Caracas issued an alert to Americans in Venezuela on Wednesday, warning them to seek safe shelter and avoid damaged areas.
“The US Embassy in Caracas is closely following the consequences of the … earthquake in Venezuela,” it said in a Spanish-language post on X.
It advised US citizens to consult the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) website, which allows the State Department to contact travelers in emergencies.
Videos show extensive damage across multiple cities
Multiple videos geolocated by CNN show extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure across Venezuela.
In video from the coastal town of Catia La Mar, north of the capital Caracas, multiple collapsed buildings can be seen on the side of a hill, and a large plume of smoke can be seen rising from one structure.
Another video, also from Catia La Mar, shows badly damaged and partially-collapsed high-rise buildings.
Video from Caracas also shows a collapsed building and rubble in the street following the earthquake.
Venezuela continues to face deep political uncertainty following US capture of Maduro
The powerful earthquakes have hit Venezuela at a time of deep political and economic turmoil, as the country attempts to navigate the aftermath of the capture of ousted president Nicolás Maduro in Caracas by US forces in January.
Delcy Rodriguez, a long-time Maduro ally, has sought to stabilize the economy and re-establish ties with the US since she took over as president following Maduro’s arrest.
In 2025, nearly 8 million people, or about a third of the population, required humanitarian assistance, according to the UN.
Two of the country’s most high-profile opposition leaders, both of whom are living in exile facing persecution at home, shared their anguish on X following the quakes.
Edmundo González, who was recognized as the legitimate winner of the 2024 elections, blamed Venezuela’s censorship regime for the lack of information surrounding the disaster.
“Venezuelans from outside cannot know if their families are well. Those inside don’t understand the magnitude of what happened,” González wrote.
These quakes are a gut punch to an economy already on its knees
These powerful quakes could not have come at a worse time for Venezuela.
The Latin American nation’s once-booming economy had already been crippled by years of US-led sanctions, hyperinflation, government corruption and mismanagement of the oil sector, despite sitting on the world’s largest oil reserves. That has led to the country’s GDP shrinking by roughly 80% since 2013.
Then came the US capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January. In his place, acting President Delcy Rodríguez has been cautiously courting foreign oil companies and seeking relief from crushing sanctions.
A natural disaster of this scale will now severely dampen Rodríguez’s fragile bid to revive the economy.
Early modeling from the US Geological Survey puts the odds of economic losses between $10 billion and $100 billion. Still, there’s a 30% change, they could run beyond $100 billion – roughly the entire size of the Venezuelan economy.
For a population already enduring some of the world’s worst poverty, these double punch earthquakes have struck at the worst possible moment.
More than 500 officials working to rescue people from collapsed buildings in Chacao
More than 500 emergency workers are trying to rescue people from collapsed and damaged buildings in the Chacao area of Venezuela’s capital Caracas, the municipality’s mayor said.
At least two buildings collapsed completely, and many more have suffered structural damage, he added.
Gas has been shut off and several areas are without power.
Interior Minister urges Venezuelans to leave their homes due to possible aftershocks
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged residents to leave their homes and wait outside due to possible aftershocks following back-to-back earthquakes that shook the country on Wednesday.
“No one should remain inside buildings because events of this type are usually accompanied by aftershocks — aftershocks capable of causing the final collapse of structures already damaged during the main event,” Cabello said during a phone call with state broadcaster VTV.
Cabello urged people to stay in the streets and remain calm.
“We must handle these situations together … as a united people” he said.
Damage assessments are underway and gas supplies have been shut off as a precaution, Cabello added.
Wednesday was a public holiday in Venezuela and many residents would have been at home when the quake hit. The holiday commemorates the historic 1821 military victory that secured the country’s independence from Spain.
In pictures: Buildings damaged buildings in Venezuelan captial after twin back-to-back earthquakes
