CARACAS: At least 164 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Thursday, as rescue teams continued searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Rodriguez announced that the government would establish an initial $200 million reconstruction fund, supported by resources from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to rebuild damaged infrastructure, hospitals and homes.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 kilometres west of Caracas on Wednesday afternoon, followed less than a minute later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor.
Emergency workers searched through collapsed buildings in Caracas overnight, while relatives desperately sought information about loved ones believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
“When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie,” said a Caracas resident, Maria Alejandra, describing the destruction in her neighbourhood.
Rodriguez said the confirmed death toll did not yet include casualties from the worst-hit La Guaira state, where several buildings collapsed and the country’s main international airport is located.
“La Guaira state is a true tragedy and has become a disaster zone,” she said during a televised address.
The USGS warned that the final death toll could rise into the thousands based on its predictive modelling, while a website established by opposition leaders listed more than 10,000 people as missing by Thursday morning.
Aftershocks continued to shake Caracas into the early hours of Thursday as authorities intensified rescue operations with assistance from international emergency teams.
US President Donald Trump offered American assistance following the disaster, saying the United States stood ready to help Venezuela with rescue and humanitarian efforts.
Rodriguez thanked international leaders for their support, confirming that specialised rescue crews from several countries were expected to arrive in the coming hours.
The United Nations’ human rights mission urged Venezuelan authorities to ease restrictions on social media to help families locate missing relatives and facilitate emergency communications.
The earthquakes forced residents across Caracas to flee their homes as buildings swayed violently.
“As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a resident of western Caracas.
Authorities closed Maiquetia International Airport after the earthquakes damaged parts of the facility, complicating relief operations.
Schools across Caracas were closed for the remainder of the week, while the city’s stock exchange suspended operations to support emergency response efforts.
Hospitals in the capital activated emergency plans, with medical staff working extended shifts to treat hundreds of injured people.
The Venezuelan Red Cross said its headquarters had sustained significant damage but confirmed rescue teams had been deployed to the worst-affected areas.
Despite the widespread destruction, authorities said Venezuela’s major oil infrastructure had not suffered significant damage, while international energy companies operating in the country reported that all employees were safe.
