Venezuela Earthquake Update: Death Toll Reaches 32, More Than 700 Injured as International Rescue Efforts Intensify

Venezuelan authorities have confirmed that at least 32 people have died and more than 700 others have been injured following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction across Caracas and several surrounding states.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the latest casualty figures during an emergency briefing, warning that the death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue searching through collapsed buildings and debris. Significantly, the official count does not yet include casualties from La Guaira state, the coastal region near Caracas that has emerged as the hardest-hit area in the disaster.

The powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, struck less than a minute apart near the coastal town of Morón, west of Caracas. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) described the event as a rare seismic “doublet” capable of causing catastrophic destruction. Rescue officials have reported more than 20 aftershocks since the main tremors, complicating efforts to locate survivors.

La Guaira, home to Venezuela’s main international gateway, Simón Bolívar International Airport, suffered extensive damage. Authorities have closed the airport indefinitely after sections of the facility sustained structural damage. Transportation networks, including metro and rail services in Caracas, have also been suspended as engineers assess the safety of critical infrastructure. Rescue operations remain underway in the region, where entire residential and commercial buildings have collapsed.

Rodríguez has declared a nationwide state of emergency and urged citizens to remain calm while emergency teams continue operations.

“We ask the population to remain calm and united,” she said, while also directing medical personnel and emergency workers to report immediately for duty. The interim president added that military and civilian rescue teams have been deployed across the worst-affected states, including Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón.

International support has begun arriving as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer. The United States announced the deployment of search-and-rescue teams, medical personnel, humanitarian aid, and emergency resources. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was moving quickly to assist Venezuelan authorities in rescue operations. President Donald Trump also pledged American support, describing the situation as devastating and offering personnel and humanitarian assistance.

Several Latin American nations have also stepped forward with aid commitments. Ecuador has ordered the immediate delivery of humanitarian supplies, while El Salvador offered emergency assistance and expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people. Reports indicate that Brazil, Mexico, Spain, China, and several Caribbean nations have either pledged support or are coordinating potential assistance efforts. Rescue specialists from multiple countries are expected to join operations in the coming hours.

The earthquakes were felt far beyond Venezuela’s borders, with tremors reported in parts of Brazil, Colombia, and across the Caribbean. Buildings were evacuated in several Brazilian cities, though no major damage was reported outside Venezuela. Initial tsunami alerts issued for parts of the Caribbean were later withdrawn after further assessment by monitoring agencies.

Emergency officials continue to warn that casualty figures could rise substantially as search teams reach heavily damaged neighborhoods. Thousands of people remain displaced, and many residents are spending the night outdoors amid fears of additional aftershocks. Hospitals in Caracas have activated emergency protocols, while schools across affected regions have been closed indefinitely.

With rescue operations entering a critical phase, authorities say the next 24 to 48 hours will be crucial in determining the full human toll of what is already being described as one of Venezuela’s most destructive earthquakes in more than a century.