Venezuelans described scenes of panic after two powerful earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday evening. In Caracas, Verónica feared for her life as violent tremors shook her apartment building. She was celebrating a national holiday with her mother when two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit seconds apart at around 6:00 p.m. local time.
The earthquakes have killed more than 30 people and injured hundreds. Authorities warned that they have not yet fully assessed the damage in some of the worst-affected areas. Rescue teams are searching through collapsed buildings in Caracas, where debris covers the streets and trapped survivors continue to call for help. Meanwhile, widespread power and internet outages are hampering relief efforts as officials work to determine the full extent of the destruction across Venezuela.
Survivors recount moments of terror as powerful earthquakes devastate Caracas, leaving dozens dead, hundreds injured
As darkness settled over Venezuela, shocked residents who had lost their homes crowded the streets, waiting for updates about their properties and loved ones.
Among them was Verónica, the sister of BBC Mundo journalist Valentina Oropeza. After the earthquakes struck, Verónica sent Valentina a voice message describing the terrifying tremors while their mother spoke in the background. Soon after, all communication stopped.
Fearing the worst, Valentina contacted friends and acquaintances in an effort to locate her family as images of collapsed buildings near their street flooded her phone. When she finally reached them, Verónica confirmed that she and their mother had survived, but she feared they had lost their home.
“The building is completely destroyed, and the walls are cracked,” she said.
Caracas has faced devastating earthquakes before. In 1967, a 6.6-magnitude quake killed more than 200 people and destroyed buildings in areas such as Palos Grandes and Altamira. However, many residents said Wednesday’s earthquakes felt stronger and lasted much longer.
“I never thought we would experience something like this,” Valentina’s mother said, still visibly shaken.
Residents across the city shared similar experiences. Coro Martinez, a 56-year-old from eastern Caracas, said she had never witnessed anything so frightening. She recalled hearing a loud crash as household items fell and objects inside her refrigerator tumbled.
BBC Mundo journalist Nicole Kolster watched the windows of her seventh-floor apartment in Palos Grandes shake violently. She quickly sought shelter between her front door and a stone wall, hoping to protect herself.
“I thought the building was going to collapse on top of me,” she said.
After evacuating, Kolster heard cries for help coming from piles of rubble. Many survivors, having fled without shoes, embraced one another and broke down in tears. Some residents mourned the loss of pets they could not rescue in time.
One of them was Caracas teacher Alan Chung, who anxiously awaited news about his two cats. He said he had not been able to return to his apartment to check whether they had survived.
Meanwhile, damaged infrastructure disrupted communication with La Guaira, the state hardest hit by the disaster. Images from the area showed flattened buildings, large fires, and residents sleeping in their vehicles after losing their homes. Others set up tents on the streets, while field hospitals treated growing numbers of injured people.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said dozens of buildings had collapsed and described the city as a disaster zone facing a profound tragedy. Authorities have not yet determined the full death toll because rescue teams are still assessing the extent of the destruction.
The earthquakes also caused significant damage in the states of Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón.