Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern Caribbean coast on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction in Caracas and several other regions. The first quake had a magnitude of 7.2 and was followed less than a minute later by a stronger 7.5 tremor, triggering building collapses, infrastructure damage and a large-scale emergency response.
Authorities have confirmed dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, with La Guaira, Carabobo and parts of the capital among the hardest-hit areas. Rescue teams are continuing to search through the rubble for survivors as aftershocks continue to shake the region.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter was located off Venezuela’s northern coast near the city of Morón. The earthquakes were felt across much of the country, as well as in neighboring Colombia and several Caribbean islands. More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded, prompting authorities to warn residents to remain vigilant.
The government has declared a nationwide state of emergency, deploying the armed forces, civil defense units and emergency services. Schools, public transport and some airports have been temporarily closed, while power, water and communications have been disrupted in several parts of the country.
The deadliest earthquake in Venezuela’s recent history struck in 1967, killing around 300 people and injuring some 1,600 in Caracas. Another earthquake in the country’s northeast in 1997 killed at least 81 people.
25 June 2026
Just hours after the quakes in Venezuela, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northern coast, the country’s meteorological agency has said. There was no danger of a tsunami, the agency added.
The quake, which occurred during the morning rush hour, also mildly shook Tokyo, according to media reports.
There have so far been no reports of injuries or damage as a result of the earthquake, top government spokesman Minoru Kihara stressed.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who remains in US custody, has issued a statement calling for “national unity” in the face of the disaster.
“Our prayers are for the affected Venezuelan families… Our heart with all of Venezuela,” the statement read.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were abducted in an American commando raid in Caracas in early January and later indicted by a Manhattan court on drug and firearms charges. They denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
The Venezuelan government denounced the raid as an illegal act of aggression and a violation of the country’s sovereignty, demanding the immediate release of Maduro and Flores.
Heartwarming footage from Caracas shows a resident rescuing his dog from a damaged building after the devastating earthquakes.
US President Donald Trump has issued a statement on his Truth Social platform, saying that Washington “stands ready, willing and able to help” Venezuela to deal with the aftermath of the earthquakes.
Video from Venezuelan state broadcaster VTV shows rubble and debris inside its building.
Video shows deep cracks running through the walls of a building in Caracas after the powerful earthquakes.
Smoke rises over Caracas as twin powerful earthquakes strike northern Venezuela, causing widespread structural damage.
Several buildings, including residential apartment blocks, collapsed in the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira neighborhoods of Caracas, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said. Emergency services have been deployed to assess the damage and search for survivors.
Cabello added that the earthquakes were felt not only in the capital but also across the states of Aragua, Carabobo, La Guaira, Miranda, Trujillo and Yaracuy.
At least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 others wounded nationwide, according to acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who warned that the toll could climb as rescue teams continue working in the hard-hit coastal state of La Guaira.
Video footage shows people rushing out of Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, near Caracas, as the earthquakes struck.