Two powerful earthquakes struck Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira, leaving approximately 40,000 people missing [1].
The disaster represents the most severe seismic activity in Venezuela since 1900. The scale of the destruction has overwhelmed local infrastructure, turning urban centers into rescue zones where thousands remain trapped under collapsed buildings.
The first earthquake measured 7.2 magnitude [1], followed about one minute later by a second quake measuring 7.5 magnitude [1]. These rapid-succession tremors caused massive building collapses across the capital and coastal regions.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced a state of emergency to mobilize all available resources for rescue operations. "We have declared a state of emergency to mobilize all resources for rescue operations," Rodríguez said.
Rescue teams are currently racing to locate survivors beneath the rubble. While some reports estimate the number of missing persons at 30,000 [2], other data indicates the figure is closer to 40,000 [1].
Juan Pérez, head of the national rescue agency, said rescuers are working around the clock to find survivors trapped under the rubble [2]. The effort is complicated by the magnitude of the collapses and the proximity of the two seismic events.
Emergency crews are focusing their efforts on the most heavily damaged sectors of Caracas and La Guaira. The government has prioritized the deployment of heavy machinery to clear debris and reach those still alive.
“approximately 40,000 people missing”
The occurrence of two high-magnitude earthquakes within one minute suggests a primary shock and a devastating immediate aftershock, which likely collapsed structures already weakened by the first tremor. With tens of thousands missing, the crisis will likely transition from a rescue operation to a recovery effort as the window for finding survivors under rubble closes.
