United States Geological Survey (USGS) said that the first earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and was followed minutes later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor
CARACAS: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-June 25th, 2026) Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within minutes of each other on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction across several cities and raising fears of a significant increase in the death toll as rescue operations continued.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said that the first earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and was followed minutes later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor. The quakes struck at around 6pm local time, shaking buildings and triggering panic among residents.
The earthquakes caused extensive damage in the capital city of Caracas and other parts of the country, with dozens of buildings reported to have collapsed. Authorities fear that many people may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez described the disaster as a national tragedy, saying that several structures had been destroyed. She added that the main airport serving Caracas, Simón Bolívar International Airport, suffered severe damage in the earthquakes.
Officials have so far confirmed 32 deaths and more than 700 injuries, but the toll is expected to rise as emergency teams reach affected areas and search through collapsed buildings.
The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and launched large-scale rescue and relief operations across the country. Emergency responders, military personnel and volunteers have been deployed to assist victims and assess the extent of the damage.
Meanwhile, a separate earthquake measuring 5.6 struck northern parts of the U.S. state of California, prompting authorities to issue alerts to nearly one million residents. No major damage or casualties were immediately reported there.
The USGS warned that the devastation in Venezuela could be severe and estimated that casualties could potentially range from thousands to tens of thousands, depending on the extent of structural damage in densely populated areas.
US President Donald Trump said initial reports from Venezuela were concerning and indicated substantial loss of life. He said US agencies had been directed to provide immediate assistance to support rescue and humanitarian efforts.
