32 Killed, More Than 700 Injured After Powerful Earthquakes Strike Venezuela

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Caracas: At least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency as rescue teams continued searching for survivors in affected areas.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the emergency measures following the twin earthquakes, which caused widespread damage, collapsed buildings and triggered panic in several parts of the country. Search-and-rescue personnel have been deployed to locate people trapped beneath debris and assist those affected by the disaster.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.2, struck near San Felipe in western Venezuela. It was followed almost immediately by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake near Yumare, also west of the capital Caracas. The National Center for Seismology reported that the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 15 kilometres, increasing its destructive impact.

Authorities are still assessing the full scale of the disaster, with officials warning that casualty figures could rise as rescue operations continue. The USGS said the earthquakes were likely to cause extensive damage and significant loss of life across a wide area.

The United States Embassy in Caracas said it was closely monitoring the situation and advised American citizens to avoid damaged buildings, seek safe shelter and follow local media and official updates.

Messages of support poured in from political leaders across the region. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele expressed solidarity with Venezuela, while US Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar offered prayers for victims and rescue workers. Venezuelan opposition figures, including Edmundo González and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado, also voiced support for those affected by the disaster.

Emergency crews remain on the ground as authorities work to assess the damage and search for survivors in the aftermath of one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Venezuela in recent years.

Pic Credit: AFP