Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings on Thursday as rescue teams raced to the scene of two powerful earthquakes that officials say killed at least 188 people, with many more feared dead.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were the strongest to hit the country in more than a century and caused widespread destruction in the capital, Caracas, as far as Brazil’s Amazon, more than 1,000 miles away.
The US Geological Survey said that "high casualties" were expected.
A website set up to track missing people, which has been shared on social media platforms by opposition leaders, says more than 40,000 people have failed to make contact.
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and warned the death toll was expected to rise as rescue crews searched collapsed buildings. She said the earthquakes caused damage in several states and urged people to "remain calm".
The president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, gave updated figures on Thursday for the numbers of dead, trapped and injured in the quakes.
He said at least 188 people had been killed, more than 200 were trapped under the rubble and a further 1,500 had been injured.
Officials urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could cause further damage.
Ecuador ordered the delivery of humanitarian aid, and Rodríguez said Qatar, Mexico and El Salvador had already sent rescue personnel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was deploying search teams, medical resources and humanitarian aid as well.
"We will have a whole government response," Rubio said Thursday. "It will be big. It will be fast. It will be effective."
Rodríguez – who became acting president after an American military operation captured her predecessor, Nicolás and brought him to the US to stand trial – thanked US President Donald Trump for the help.
She also asked all healthcare professionals in the country to report to hospitals to help anyone who was injured.
The casualty figures released early Thursday excluded the state of La Guaira, which Rodríguez described as a “disaster zone” and the area hardest hit.
French President Emmanuel Macron took to X to express France’s solidarity with the people of Venezuela, stating that a team of 85 French rescue workers had been deployed to assist with rescue efforts.
The US Geological Survey initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2.
Its epicentre was west of Morón on the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometers (13.6 miles).
The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) with an epicenter 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Morón.
The quakes struck shortly after 6pm.
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