Venezuela hit by twin quakes as airport shuts and 15 remain trapped

Caracas,UPDATED: Jun 25, 2026 09:04 IST

Two powerful earthquakes struck off Venezuela's coast on Wednesday evening, damaging buildings, forcing evacuations and sending residents into the streets in panic. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors were felt across a wide area, including parts of Brazil's Amazon about 1,700 kilometres away.

Acting President Delcy Rodrguez said the quakes caused damage in several states, though she did not give a national figure for damaged homes and buildings, injuries or deaths. She said Simón Bolvar Airport had been damaged badly enough to be closed, and that classes had been cancelled for several days. In Falcon state, Governor Victor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalised and, more than four hours after the quake, 15 people were still trapped.

The US Geological Survey said the first quake, initially reported at magnitude 7.1 and later revised to 7.2, struck west of Morón on Venezuela's Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometres west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometres. A minute later, it reported a stronger 7.5 magnitude quake at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre 16 kilometres south-west of Morón. The quakes, among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 pm.

In Caracas, people rushed out of swaying buildings as some walls collapsed, exposing furniture to the street. Dust clouds rose in two neighbourhoods, while collapsed buildings, fallen electric poles and debris blocked roads. Parts of the capital also lost power and mobile phone signal. People stayed outside for hours, some sitting on the ground with their pets. Caracas resident Hector Ricci said, "It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together." Roberto Gamas said, "The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong. We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out."

Rodrguez appealed for calm and asked health workers across the country to report to hospitals. "We urge our population to remain calm," she said. "We urge unity." Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake was felt in several states and that Caracas's Altamira neighbourhood had "alarming situations" with collapsed homes and buildings. He urged motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles, saying, "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 added, "Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed," and urged people to remain outside because aftershocks could further damage buildings.

The loss of mobile phone signal added to the distress of many families, especially those connected to the more than 7.7 million people who have left Venezuela during its long crisis. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, writing from exile on X, said, "May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time." El Salvador President Nayib Bukele also posted his support, saying his country's "heart is with the people of Venezuela during these difficult times" and adding, "We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela." Republican Representative Mara Elvira Salazar of Florida said her "thoughts and prayers" were with Venezuela and added, "The strength of the Venezuelan people has been tested time and again. I have no doubt they will face this moment with the same resilience, courage, and hope that have carried them through every challenge."

The impact was felt beyond Venezuela. Buildings were evacuated in Manaus, Belm and Macap in Brazil's Amazon, according to TV Globo. The tremors were also felt in Colombia's Caribbean and north-eastern regions, but there were no reports of damage or injuries there. Colombia's Maritime Authority said the country's Caribbean coast was not at risk of a tsunami. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for the Virgin Islands, while authorities in the Dominican Republic also issued one. Another alert for Puerto Rico was quickly lifted.

Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela, though the country lies near several fault lines. Wednesday's twin quakes caused damage across several states, shut the main airport, left people trapped and injured, and triggered evacuations and alerts across the wider region.

With PTI Inputs

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