Topline
Two powerful earthquakes struck the northern coast of Venezuela late on Wednesday, just minutes apart, causing at least 32 deaths and several building collapses, as authorities declared a state of emergency while President Donald Trump vowed to send help.
Key Facts
According to data from the United States Geological Survey, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the country at around 6:04 p.m. local time, with an epicenter about 16 miles from the city of San Felipe.
This was followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake, less than a minute later, around 19 miles away from the same city of about 220,000 residents, USGS data showed.
The country’s acting President, Delcy Rodriguez, said at least 32 people have died from the earthquake but warned that this number is expected to rise.
Rodriguez, who has been leading the country since Nicholas Maduro was captured by U.S. soldiers in a raid in January, declared a state of emergency in a televised address in which she expressed condolences to those “who have unfortunately suffered the loss of a family member.”
The quakes caused several buildings to collapse, with major damage and power outages being reported in the country’s capital, Caracas, which is 200 miles away from the epicenter.
What has president donald Trump Said about the quakes?
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote: “The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths. The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!!”
What Have other U.S. Officials Said?
In a statement on X, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote: “My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Venezuela affected by today’s earthquakes. We send our deepest condolences to the families who have suffered loss and are wishing strength, safety, and a swift recovery to all impacted communities during this time.” In a separate statement, Dylan Johnson, the Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, wrote: “The U.S. Department of State is closely monitoring the aftermath of a large earthquake in Venezuela…The United States extends our deepest condolences to the victims and are committed to supporting the people of Venezuela during this difficult time. Embassy Caracas has reported that all U.S. personnel are accounted for.”
What Do We Know About Other Offers Of International Aid?
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he has instructed his country’s foreign ministry to assess the situation in Venezuela and outline the assistance measures they can take. “I reaffirm our determination to support the government of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez in the recovery of the affected areas of this sister nation, whose people have demonstrated great resilience in the face of adversity,” the statement added. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa tweeted that he has arranged for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to address the emergency in Venezuela and wrote “despite our enormous differences, humanity must always guide a leader’s actions.” Panamanian President Raúl Mulino and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele have also offered assistance.