DILI, 25 June 2026 (TATOLI) — At least 32 people were killed and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction across the country, according to Venezuelan authorities.
The Venezuelan News Agency reported that the two powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck west of Caracas at around 10 p.m. local time on Wednesday, leaving many buildings collapsed, particularly along the country’s central coast.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the most severe infrastructure damage was concentrated in the coastal state of La Guaira, which has been declared an emergency zone.
“We can say that the state of La Guaira is a true tragedy and has become a disaster zone. (…) There are dozens of collapsed buildings, and we are currently engaged in very arduous rescue efforts,” Rodríguez stated, as reported by the Venezuelan News Agency.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as assessments continue and a final report from La Guaira has yet to be completed.
The government has urged residents to report damage through the Ven App platform to assist emergency response efforts.
Rescue teams in Caracas continued searching through collapsed structures, while reports indicated that trapped residents could be heard calling for help beneath the rubble.
According to the BBC, many buildings were left without electricity, while the capital’s metro system was shut down following the earthquakes.
Emergency crews remain deployed across affected areas as authorities work to assess the full scale of the disaster and support affected communities.
TATOLI
