At least 164 people have been killed and 971 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, according to acting president Delcy Rodríguez, who warned that the toll could still rise as rescue operations continue across the country. The figures represent a sharp increase from earlier reports of 32 dead and around 700 injured, as emergency teams reach areas that were initially inaccessible.
The earthquakes, measured at magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, hit within seconds of each other and are considered among the strongest to affect Venezuela in over a century. The most severe damage has been reported in La Guaira, north of Caracas, where authorities have redirected rescue teams from other regions to support ongoing operations. Rodríguez said “dozens of buildings have collapsed there … and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives.”
Officials confirmed widespread structural damage in both La Guaira and the capital region, with collapsed buildings, disrupted utilities, and emergency shelters set up in schools and public facilities. Some areas remain without electricity, while communication outages have complicated rescue coordination and family reunification efforts.
