Venezuela declares state of emergency after twin quakes kill hundreds

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, and causing widespread damage across Caracas, La Guaira and several northern coastal states. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced on state television that the death toll had risen to 589 and that 2,980 people were injured, with expectations that the numbers will continue to climb.

Rescue operations are being carried out by firefighters, soldiers and civilian volunteers who have brought their own tools to the sites. > "In a place like this you just feel shocked. I don't even feel like taking photos," said volunteer Sebastian Arias, describing the chaotic conditions at collapsed neighborhoods.

The hardest-hit area is the port city of La Guaira, where dozens of buildings have collapsed and rescue crews are working through large piles of rubble. Rodríguez met with the army’s general staff to coordinate the response and declared a nationwide state of emergency, urging medical personnel to report for duty. > "We need all doctors and nurses to report to their places of work. We must take care of everyone who is arriving at emergency rooms," she said in a televised address.

Authorities have closed the main airport after structural damage was discovered in the terminal roof, and schools will remain closed for the week. International assistance is arriving from Mexico, Chile, El Salvador and the United States, which is sending rescue teams and aerial imagery to assess damage.

The quakes are the strongest to hit the capital since a 1967 magnitude-6.7 event that killed more than 200 people, highlighting the strain on Venezuela’s already fragile health and emergency systems.