The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen sharply to at least 164, with 971 others injured, as emergency crews continue searching through collapsed buildings and devastated neighborhoods, authorities said.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said rescue operations remained underway following the disaster, warning that the number of casualties could increase as teams gain access to heavily damaged areas.
According to Al Jazeera, the earthquakes were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. The twin tremors triggered widespread destruction across parts of the country, including the collapse of several buildings in and around the capital, Caracas.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the first earthquake, measuring 7.2 magnitude, struck near the coastal city of Morón, about 168 kilometers west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, a second and stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit about 16 kilometers southwest of Morón at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The powerful back-to-back earthquakes caused panic across much of northern Venezuela, damaging homes, public infrastructure and transportation networks. Emergency responders have been working around the clock to locate survivors trapped beneath debris and provide medical assistance to the injured.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the disaster as potentially catastrophic and said Washington was prepared to provide assistance. The USGS previously warned that the scale of destruction could result in significantly higher casualties due to the strength of the earthquakes and the concentration of population in affected areas.
Venezuela lies near several active tectonic fault systems and has experienced destructive earthquakes throughout its history. However, seismologists say earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively rare and can cause extensive damage, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
The disaster comes as Venezuela continues to struggle with economic hardship, aging infrastructure and limited emergency-response resources, raising concerns about the country’s ability to cope with a large-scale humanitarian emergency. Authorities have urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks while relief agencies mobilize support for thousands of affected families.
