Two powerful earthquakes affect Venezuela and cause numerous deaths

BarcelonaTwo powerful earthquakes, separated by only 39 seconds, have struck Venezuela during the night, causing a tragedy of great proportions. For now, the Venezuelan government has confirmed the deaths of 32 people, and also speaks of 700 injured. According to calculations by the United States Geological Survey, however, the death toll could be between 10,000 and 100,000 people. The two earthquakes, 7.2 magnitude the first and 7.5 the second, have particularly affected the center of the country, but have also been felt in the capital, Caracas. As a consequence of the two tremors, numerous buildings and structures have collapsed, leaving a trail of death and destruction.

The tragic forecasts of the US service have been confirmed by the US president himself, Donald Trump, who has spoken of a "devastating" number of deaths. The Venezuelan government, for its part, has declared a state of emergency. With dozens of buildings collapsed across the country, everything suggests that the death toll is very high.

Proof of the magnitude and consequences of the earthquake is that the epicenter was in the state of Carabobo, about 300 kilometers from Caracas, but the damage has been strongly felt in the capital, where numerous buildings have collapsed, and also in the states of Miranda, Falcón, and La Guaira, near Caracas, which Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has defined as a "disaster zone." The country's main airport had to close after suffering serious damage.

Several countries have already offered aid to Venezuela. As for Spain, President Pedro Sánchez has shown his support for the country and has made the resources of the embassy and consulate in Caracas available: "Our thoughts are with the victims," he published on X. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, explained that "for the moment" there are no Spanish citizens among the dead and injured, although it cannot be ruled out given the magnitude of the disaster. The same ministry has made two consular emergency telephone numbers available to assist those affected. They are +34 91 000 1249 from Spain and +58 424-2090264 in the Latin American country.

In a message on the Truth Social network, Trump said he had instructed "all government agencies to help quickly." The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, also assured that her country has responded to the call made by Delcy Rodríguez, who requested specialized rescue personnel, and the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, said that the country is evaluating assistance measures to support the country.

The double earthquake occurred around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, causing thousands of people to spend the night on the street, either for fear of new aftershocks or because their homes were affected. The night has complicated the tasks of the emergency services, who are searching among the rubble of the collapses for victims who have been buried there.