The death toll from two devastating earthquakes that hit Venezuela has risen to 164 people, with 971 others injured, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said on Thursday (25/6/2026) as quoted by local media. In early reports, Rodriguez said 32 people were killed and more than 700 others injured after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck on Wednesday night, while warning that the death toll was likely to rise
The earthquake was among the most devastating to hit Venezuela in more than 100 years.
Rodriguez later declared a national emergency after an earthquake struck the country's North Caribbean coastal region causing widespread damage and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates there is a 42 percent chance that the death toll could reach between 10,000 and 100,000 with the La Guaira region, near Caracas, as the state most affected by the quake.
According to local television station TeleSur, which quoted Rodriguez as saying, authorities are currently focusing on rescuing the lives of people trapped inside collapsed buildings and houses.
According to the latest technical data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), northern Venezuela was violently shaken by a series of extraordinary double earthquakes.
Aftershocks of around magnitude 5 could potentially occur in Venezuela in the coming days after a series of powerful earthquakes shook the country, according to Venezuelan Geological Society Chairman Feliciano de Santis. The Universal newspaper reported on Thursday that aftershocks of lower intensity are also likely to be recorded after the large quake that occurred on Wednesday.
Based on data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), two strong earthquakes shook Venezuela on Wednesday with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, respectively.
The first quake was centered about 16 kilometers from Moron, while the second occurred about 24 kilometers from San Felipe.
RIA Novosti correspondent reported that the quake caused damage to buildings and casualties in the capital Caracas.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said at least 32 people were killed and more than 700 others were injured in the disaster.
According to Rodriguez, the earthquake caused damage to a number of buildings, including residential areas in Caracas.
Damage was also reported in the states of Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcon.
The Venezuelan government has declared a state of emergency and deployed search and rescue teams to deal with the impact of the quake.
