Twin Earthquakes Kill 235 in Venezuela as Rescuers Search Rubble
Twin earthquakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck the northern coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 235 people and injuring at least 4,300 others. The powerful double quakes, which occurred within seconds of each other, caused widespread building collapses and left thousands of residents missing, particularly in the worst-hit northern region of La Guaira.
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado confirmed the death toll on Thursday, stating that approximately 235 victims arrived at health facilities without vital signs or died shortly after arrival. The casualty count is expected to rise as search operations continue.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the disaster began when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometers. Just 39 seconds later, a second earthquake of 7.5 magnitude hit at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located 16 kilometers southwest of Moron.
The consecutive tremors, seismically classified as a "doublet," toppled buildings across Caracas and beyond. In La Guaira, which has been declared a "disaster zone," rescue teams have been redirected from other parts of the country to search for survivors trapped under the rubble. Frightened residents searched through debris for missing relatives, while injured survivors were pulled from collapsed structures.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez appealed to private businesses on Thursday to provide heavy construction equipment to aid the rescue efforts. Rodríguez noted that the first international rescue teams from the Dominican Republic were expected to arrive soon, with further assistance on the way.
In response to the crisis, the US Treasury waived certain sanctions until October 23 to facilitate transactions related to earthquake relief efforts. Additionally, satellite internet provider Starlink announced it would provide free services to affected customers in Venezuela through July 25.
