Regina Garcia Cano and Juan Pablo ArraezUpdated June 25, 2026 — 11:18am,first published 10:04amCaracas: Back-to-back powerful earthquakes have struck Venezuela, causing buildings to collapse in the capital, Caracas.There is no official information yet on deaths or injuries but the US Geological Survey (USGS) said that “high casualties and extensive damage” were probable.People stand outside damaged buildings in Caracas after the quake struck on Wednesday evening, Venezuelan time. AP Photo/Adrian NaranjoThe first quake hit just after 6pm on Wednesday evening (Thursday AEST) with a magnitude of 7.1. The epicentre was west of the community of Morón, about 168 kilometres west of Caracas, and it had a depth of 13 kilometres.A collapsed building in central Caracas.AP Photo/Adrian NaranjoMinutes later, the USGS reported an even larger, 7.5-magnitude earthquake. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometres and its epicentre was 16 kilometres south-west of Morón.The Venezuela quakes were followed almost immediately by a 6.9-magnitude quake in northern Japan, which rattled buildings in Tokyo.The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued tsunami alerts for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.“Some buildings have been brought down [in Caracas], houses have collapsed,” Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television. He did not give any initial estimates of deaths or injuries and said protocols were being followed to gather more information.Cabello said that states including Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira were also affected.People stand outside damaged buildings in Caracas after the quake struck on Wednesday evening, Venezuelan time. AP Photo/Adrian NaranjoPeople evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas and remained outside, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. According to the BBC, June 24 is a public holiday in Venezuela, meaning more people than usual may have been at home when the quakes struck.Dust columns could also be seen in two districts of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.Evacuated people gather in Caracas’ Parque Central.Getty ImagesJosefina Hernández, 48, an administrator from Valencia, west of Caracas, told the New York Times she heard a deafening noise before the electricity went out and everything inside her home started moving.“You tried to run, and you couldn’t,” she said. “People were frantic, screaming – I mean, it was terrifying because people were just pouring out, saying, ‘What is this?’”Rescue teams are combing through the rubble to hunt for survivors.AP Photo/Pedro MatteyCabello said the quake was felt in several states, adding that the Altamira district in Caracas had “alarming situations” with collapsed homes and buildings. He urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could cause further damage.A man sits with his dog outside their home following the quakes.AP Photo/Adrian NaranjoHe urged motorists to clear roads for ambulances and other emergency vehicles.“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,” Cabello said. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”The interior of an apartment lies partly exposed by a building collapse.Getty ImagesThe USGS said many people in the affected area live in buildings made of unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block construction, which are vulnerable to earthquakes.Some older residents said the quakes brought back memories of the massive 1967 earthquake that killed more than 200 people in Caracas.Residents console a man on the street after the twin quakes struck.AP Photo/Ariana CubillosThere were no immediate reports of damage to Venezuela’s oil facilities, according to people familiar with the situation.The country’s refining hub in Paraguana, 225 kilometres west of the epicentre, continued operations as usual. Work at the Port of Jose complex and at the Puerto La Cruz refinery was unaffected, one of the persons said.A car lies crushed by the rubble of a collapsed building. AP Photo/Adrian NaranjoThe disaster will further strain the nation’s crisis-hit economy. The country is reeling from one of the world’s fastest inflation rates and rolling power outages.President Nicolás Maduro was captured in a raid on Caracas by US forces in January, leaving the government in a state of transition.AP, BloombergBe the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.From our partners