Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971 others, as buildings collapsed in and around the capital, Caracas, interim President Delcy Rodríguez said.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the disaster began with a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck near San Felipe, about 284km (176 miles) west of Caracas, at 22:04 GMT yesterday.
It was followed almost immediately by a second, stronger magnitude 7.5 quake near Yumare, about 293km (182 miles) from the capital.
Using predictive modelling, the USGS warned that the death toll could rise into the thousands, with a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” Rodríguez said in an appearance on state television early on Thursday.
“I also want to say that this is a true tragedy. From here, we send our message of solidarity, and to those families who have lost loved ones, we reaffirm our condolences and our support in these difficult hours.”
She added that the country was focusing on rescue operations, including the expected arrival of international search-and-rescue teams in the coming hours, while thanking foreign leaders for their support, including US President Donald Trump.
Trump said in a social media post that the United States was “ready, willing and able” to assist in response to the disaster.
“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,” Trump said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on X that Washington was “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”
Leaders from several countries, including El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Australia and Brazil, also expressed condolences and offered support.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deployment of 85 French rescue workers to assist in search and recovery efforts following the twin earthquakes.
“France stands ready, together with its European partners, to provide assistance to the affected populations in response to the needs expressed by the Venezuelan authorities,” Macron said on X.
He added that a team of 85 specialised rescuers trained in search and debris clearance would be deployed immediately.
Meanwhile, the United Nations called on Venezuelan authorities to urgently lift restrictions on media access, warning that the ability to receive and share information could soon become “a matter of life and death.”
“It is crucial that a full commitment to human rights guide all aspects of the national and international response to this immense tragedy,” said a statement from the UN fact-finding mission on Venezuela.
The UN also urged Venezuela’s telecommunications regulator, CONATEL, to take immediate steps to unblock access to social media platforms and other media outlets to ensure the free flow of information during the crisis.