Powerful back-to-back earthquakes flatten buildings in Caracas and La Guaira, leaving thousands injured, hundreds missing, and entire communities in ruins

Rescue teams are racing against time in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck within seconds of each other, killing at least 235 people and leaving more than 4,300 injured in one of the country’s deadliest disasters in decades.

The twin tremors — measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude — hit near the capital, Caracas, and the coastal city of La Guaira on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings and trapping residents beneath rubble. With both quakes occurring at shallow depths, the impact was especially destructive.

Cries for help have been heard from beneath debris as emergency workers scramble to pull out survivors. Hundreds remain unaccounted for, and the death toll is feared to rise sharply.

Authorities say at least 250 buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged, including a 10-storey hotel in La Guaira reduced to rubble. Entire neighbourhoods in Caracas, particularly Altamira and Los Palos Grandes, have also suffered significant devastation.

The disaster struck on a national holiday, meaning many people were indoors at the time — worsening casualties. Thousands of residents have been forced to sleep on the streets, either displaced or too fearful to return to structurally compromised homes.

Venezuela’s interim president has declared a state of emergency, while the country’s main international airport has been shut due to heavy damage. Aftershocks continue to rattle affected areas, further complicating rescue efforts.

International support is mobilising rapidly. The United States has pledged $150 million in aid and is deploying military transport, rescue teams, and medical assistance. Several other countries, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Qatar, have also offered help.

Experts warn the final toll could be far higher. Early estimates suggest the potential for thousands of fatalities depending on the scale of structural collapse and response capacity.

The earthquakes — the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century — were caused by tectonic activity along a major fault line beneath the region. Ongoing power outages and communication disruptions are making it difficult to fully assess the scale of the catastrophe.

For many survivors, the shock remains overwhelming. Families continue to search for loved ones as rescuers dig through the wreckage, hoping to find signs of life amid the devastation.