Live: Strong earthquakes hit Venezuelan capital, 'high casualties' likely

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Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:31am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:31am

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Recap

Here is a summary of the day's events:

Two major earthquakes struck Venezuela shortly after 6pm, local time.

Footage showed extensive damage to buildings in the capital Caracas, with experts expecting "high causalities".

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency in an address hours later, but did not give a death toll.

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Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:42pm

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:42pm

How strong is a magnitude 7.5 earthquake?

Venezuela was struck by a magnitude 7.1 quake, with a magnitude 7.5 quake striking less than a minute afterwards.

Magnitude speaks to the energy released by an earthquake — the  greater the magnitude, the more energy released.

Here's America's Michigan Technological University describes the magnitude scale:

2.5 or less: Usually not felt, but can be recorded by seismograph

2.6 to 5.4: Often felt, but only causes minor damage

5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings and other structures

6.1 to 6.9: May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas

7.0 to 7.9: Major earthquake, serious damage

8.0 or greater: Great earthquake, can destroy communities near the epicentre

As you can see, the earthquakes that struck Venezuela were quite high ranking on the magnitude scale.

Tremors were felt throughout the country and beyond its borders.

Buildings in Manaus, Belem and Macapá in Brazil's Amazon were evacuated, according to reports on TV Globo.

The quakes also were felt in Colombia’s Caribbean and northeast regions, but there were no reports of damages or injuries.

- With reporting from Associated Press

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:35pm

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:35pm

WATCH: video shows airport damage

By Rachel Jewell

A video appears to show a ceiling collapse at the International Airport in Maiquetía in Venezuela, as people rush to safety.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:17pm

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:17pm

Where did the earthquake hit?

By Dannielle Maguire

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:04pm

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 12:04pm

State of emergency declared, airport closed

By Dannielle Maguire

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez has declared a state of emergency.

Ms Rodriguez said she extended her condolences to the families of those who had been killed, but she gave no death toll or number of injured.

She also said Simón Bolívar Airport in Maiquetía, near Caracas, was closed because of damage.

- Reporting by Reuters

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:58am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:58am

How strong were the earthquakes?

By Rachel Jewell

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has confirmed the back-to-back earthquakes had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.

The second one struck less than a minute later.

The USGS initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2.

"This earthquake was the second event in a doublet. This magnitude 7.5 mainshock was preceded by 39 seconds by a 7.2 foreshock," the USGS said.

The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6pm local time.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:45am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:45am

Where is Venezuela?

By Dannielle Maguire

It's at the top of South America, sharing a border with Colombia and Guyana.

Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate.

While the country sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America.

But while strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela, it has been struck by major quakes before.

Caracas was struck by a magnitude-6.3 earthquake in 1967, which killed more than 225 people.

In 1812, a powerful quake caused widespread destruction in the cities of Merida and Caracas, killing an estimated 30,000 people, according to the US Geological Survey.

- With reporting by Reuters and Associated Press

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:42am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:42am

Interior minister says quakes were felt across several states

By Andrew Thorpe

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has appeared on state TV, AP is reporting, saying that while the centre of the earthquakes hit west of Caracas, they could be felt across several states.

He says the Altamira neighborhood in Chacao, Caracas appeared to have been hardest hit, with collapsed homes and buildings leading to "alarming situations".

"We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most," he said on state television.

"Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no-one has been harmed."

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:34am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:34am

Mayor confirms fatalities, but toll is unknown

By Dannielle Maguire

In Chacao, an eastern Caracas municipality, Mayor Gustavo Duque told broadcaster Globovision that two structures had collapsed.

He said 16 people were injured and some people had died, though he gave no figure for fatalities.

"We're going to do everything we can to rescue the most people possible," he said.

Chacao is just one municipality of Caracas, so it's likely the injuries toll is greater across the broader region.

- Reporting by Reuters

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:32am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:32am

WATCH: Emergency crews respond after buildings collapse

By Dannielle Maguire

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:31am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:31am

Hospital staff asked to work double shifts, video shows airport damage

By Andrew Thorpe

Staff at Caracas's Hospital de Clinicas have been asked to work double night shifts because of the volume of injured being brought to the hospital, Reuters is reporting.

The hospital itself hasn't escaped damage either, with videos posted on social media showing hallways plunged into darkness while ceiling panels hang by cables and pieces of plaster lie scattered across the floor.

Other videos on social media appear to show significant damage at Venezuela's main airport, with commuters collapsing to the floor as clouds of smoke fill the hallways.

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:10am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:10am

Quakes struck during public holiday, felt 'worse than 1967'

By Andrew Thorpe

The back-to-back earthquakes struck while many Venezuelans were at home on a public holiday marking the anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo, an 1821 military victory that helped the country win independence from Spain.

Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner in southern Caracas, told the Reuters news agency that police had had to help her evacuate her home.

"This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967," she said.

Caracas was struck by a magnitude-6.3 earthquake in July of 1967, which killed more than 225 people.

Another Caracas resident, 56-year-old Coro Martinez, told Reuters this quake was unlike anything he'd felt before.

"There was a very loud crash. Things fell in the house, jugs inside the refrigerator. I've never experienced anything like it," he said.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:02am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 11:02am

Tsunami warnings for nearby islands withdrawn

By Dannielle Maguire

The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat for Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands after the earthquake.

It said hazardous waves could also affect Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire.

However, the warning was withdrawn about an hour later.

Here's what the latest alert for the Caribbean and adjacent regions says:

"There is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake.

"Remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea.

"Otherwise … no action is required.

"Minor sea level fluctuations up to 30cm above and below the normal tide may occur in coastal areas near the earthquake over the next few hours."

- With reporting by Reuters

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:57am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:57am

Caracas residents describe 'unreal' quakes 'tossing us around'

By Andrew Thorpe

The Associated Press has journalists on the ground in Caracas, who saw some buildings swaying while others completely collapsed.

A number of buildings have lost entire exterior walls, leaving rooms and furniture visible from the street.

Fearful of aftershocks, residents of the capital who evacuated their buildings and ran out into the street have stayed there after sunset, some sitting on the ground hugging their family and pets.

"The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong," Caracas resident Roberto Gamas told AP.

"We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out."

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:51am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:51am

📸 Photos: Caracas buildings damaged by quake

By Dannielle Maguire

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:46am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:46am

Back-to-back, powerful quakes struck just below the surface

By Andrew Thorpe

The US Geological Survey says Venezuela was hit by two back-to-back powerful earthquakes just after 6pm Wednesday local time, with the first one a magnitude-7.1 quake about 168 kilometres west of Caracas.

The second, a magnitude-7.5 quake, struck just a minute later, another 16 kilometres further south-west of the initial quake.

Both quakes were relatively shallow, and therefore more dangerous. The first hit at a depth of 22 kilometres, while the second, larger quake was just 10 kilometres below the surface.

Key Event

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:39am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:39am

📸 Photos: Rescue workers, civilians help injured after quakes hit Caracas

By Andrew Thorpe

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:28am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 10:28am

We're launching a live blog after reports of major earthquakes near Caracas

By Andrew Thorpe

Good morning. We're launching a live blog as reports of a major series of earthquakes begin to emerge from Venezuela.

A number of buildings and houses have reportedly collapsed in the capital, Caracas, leading scientists to estimate "high casualties and extensive damage".

Early images show rescue workers searching for victims and civilians crying in the street, while buildings behind them are either destroyed or show signs of severe damage.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest.