Two powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela in quick succession, many missing

On the evening of June 24, Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 in quick succession, triggering widespread panic. According to the Venezuelan National Assembly, at least 188 people have died, but the US Geological Survey (USGS) warned the death toll could reach thousands.

Several areas suffered severe damage, particularly La Guaira state north of the capital Caracas, where rows of buildings collapsed into piles of twisted concrete and steel. Rescue crews are racing against time to find survivors in the rubble.

Billy Ebrin, a resident on the seventh floor in Caracas, recalled the horrifying moment when his phone alarm blared and the building began to shake violently. “I thought I was going to die. You could hear the concrete cracking in the walls,” he said. As the tremor ended, hundreds of people poured into the streets, jostling in chaos, some in underwear, carrying pets, even squirrels and parrots.

Many families slept on the streets or in cars, too afraid to go home. On the morning of June 25, they awoke to scenes of devastation: homes in ruins, loved ones missing. On social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, images of missing relatives spread rapidly — elderly parents, small children, cousins — all vanishing without a trace after the quakes.

Under public pressure, the interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez eased restrictions on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which had been blocked since 2024 after a disputed presidential election. A website to register missing persons was also set up to help families.

“The government is under heavy pressure from social media to lift the ban on X and other platforms, especially because of the urgent need to find information,” said Andres Azpurua, director of the digital rights organization Ve sin Filtro. Many also called on the U.S. Embassy to intervene, following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in January this year.

Rodriguez called on the international community and the private sector to assist in rescue efforts. Several countries — including Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United States, Qatar, and Argentina — have pledged aid. “Our central and only objective is to save lives. United as a nation, we will overcome this tragedy,” she wrote on X.

Yet many understand this is a race against time. Phone and power services remain disrupted in many areas, though some have been restored, prompting families to keep searching for news of their loved ones.

Renny Vargas, a survivor in Caracas, recalled: “When my phone rang with the alert, everything happened very fast. The shock was so strong. I just managed to stop a piece of wall from hitting my father. We didn't know what to do. I told my father to stay calm and stay with me. It was terrifying.” Mairyn Cedeno, who lives in the Caricuao parish, said something struck her leg, her house walls were damaged, and electronics fell to the floor.

Venezuela lies on the boundary between two tectonic plates, making it prone to earthquakes, but deadly quakes are relatively rare. The most catastrophic earthquake in 1967 (magnitude 6.7) killed 300 people; in 1997, 80 died; and in 2018, a 7.3 quake killed six.

Engineers are now assessing the damage and why so many buildings collapsed. Jesus Vasquez, director of the civil society organization Ciudadania Sin Limites, said older buildings were not designed to withstand earthquakes, while areas like Los Palos Grandes and Chacao are built on weak soil, making them more vulnerable. “Buildings are designed not to collapse. They can be damaged, but not in a way that endangers human life. Many buildings may need to be evacuated after this earthquake,” he said.

On June 25, schools were closed and the Caracas Metro shut down. Thousands still do not know when they can return home, as rescue teams continue to search through the rubble.