At least 32 people have died and more than 700 have been injured in two strong earthquakes that hit Venezuela, destroying buildings, forcing the closure of the main airport, and sending residents fleeing into the streets, according to local authorities.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency on the evening of July 26, after two quakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 occurred within less than a minute near the coastal town of Morón, about 170 kilometers west of Caracas. She warned the death toll could rise as rescue teams search through rubble and reach remote areas.
“La Guaira state is facing a real tragedy and has become a disaster zone,” Rodríguez said, adding that dozens of buildings had collapsed. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people not to stay in damaged homes amid a series of aftershocks, and said gas systems in some buildings had been shut off to prevent fire risks.
Simón Bolívar International Airport near the capital Caracas was closed due to “severe damage,” and the capital’s subway system was suspended. Many areas in Caracas lost power and phone service as residents stayed outdoors overnight, many too afraid to return home.
“The earthquake started light then got stronger, and eventually we all had to leave our houses,” said Caracas resident Hector Ricci.
Aftershocks were felt as far away as Colombia and the Amazon region of Brazil. The United States and several Latin American governments, including Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, and Bolivia, offered search-and-rescue assistance and humanitarian aid.
These two earthquakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, as major seismic events in the country are relatively rare compared to other parts of Latin America.
