Venezuela earthquakes killed at least 235 people and trapped about 200 others after two powerful tremors struck near Caracas on Wednesday evening, officials said.
The US Geological Survey said a magnitude 7.2 quake hit about 160 kilometres west of Caracas. A magnitude 7.5 tremor followed less than a minute later, marking Venezuela’s strongest quake since 1900.
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said late Thursday that medical centres had received about 235 bodies. He did not give a full casualty count.
Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, said earlier that 250 buildings had been damaged or destroyed. He said about 200 people remained trapped under rubble.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said about 70,000 families in La Guaira state had been affected. La Guaira borders Caracas and hosts the capital’s main airport.
Rescue teams raced to find survivors and recover bodies after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday. The death toll has risen to 188, with thousands more reported missing or injured.
Al Jazeera’s Maria Alesia Sosa reports. pic.twitter.com/KGxIB3rGmp
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 25, 2026Acting President Delcy Rodriguez called La Guaira a “disaster zone.” She said the government was working with private companies to bring heavy machinery into damaged areas.
At least eight hospitals, the Venezuelan Red Cross headquarters and the French embassy suffered major damage, according to officials and local reports. Caracas airport also closed after damage at the terminal.
Residents and volunteers searched through the night for survivors in collapsed buildings. In La Guaira city, families said rescue teams lacked machinery and arrived slowly in some neighbourhoods.
A missing-person website shared by opposition leaders listed more than 46,000 people as unaccounted for shortly after 7 p.m. local time, or 4 a.m. PKT the next day. Reuters said it could not independently verify the figure.
The US Geological Survey’s predictive model indicated that the death toll could rise into the thousands. It also showed a substantial probability that deaths could exceed 10,000.
Countries, including the United States and Russia, pledged support. President Donald Trump said Washington was ready to help, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would send rescue teams.
Read: Venezuela Earthquakes Trigger Emergency in Caracas
United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said the UN was coordinating international rescue teams. He said Venezuela would need a “massive collective effort” after the quake.
Starlink said it would provide free service in affected areas through July 25 and work to deploy terminals in the worst-hit zones. Foreign energy companies said oil operations had not suffered major disruption
