Virendra Pandit

New Delhi: Thousands of people were feared killed as back-to-back powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.

The temblors roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers away. The impact of these earthquakes was felt in Colombia, California, and Japan, among other areas, the media reported on Thursday.

Venezuela’s Acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, declared a state of national emergency. Tsunami warnings were also issued.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had received Rodriguez during her five-day India visit in early June, expressed solidarity with victims and assured that New Delhi was ready to send any assistance required to the Latin American nation.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2, and its epicentre was west of the community of Morón, located along Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, about 168 km west of Caracas the national capital where the airport was damaged and flights were cancelled. The quake had a depth of 22 kms.

The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kms and its epicentre was 16 kms southwest of Morón.

The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 pm (local time) on Wednesday. People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.

Panic

Panicked, people remained on the streets for hours, even after sunset. Some sat on the ground hugging their pets as dust gathered around them. Collapsed buildings, toppled electric poles and debris blocked streets. Parts of the capital lost power and mobile phone signals.

The lack of cell phone signal in parts of Venezuela deepened the distress of many families, particularly those among the more than 7.7 million people who have left the country during its protracted crisis in recent months.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake could be felt in several states. The Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had “alarming situations” with collapsed homes and buildings, he said, suggesting people were injured in the earthquake and asking motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.

impact

Buildings in Manaus, Belem and Macapá in Brazil’s Amazon were evacuated, according to reports on TV Globo.

The quakes were also felt in Colombia’s Caribbean and northeast regions, but there were no reports of damages or injuries. The Colombian Maritime Authority in a statement said the country’s Caribbean coast is at no risk of tsunami.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for the Virgin Islands. Authorities in the Dominican Republic also issued one for the island. Another alert for Puerto Rico was quickly lifted.

While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates make earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. Along the Pacific coast — in Mexico and Chile, for example — earthquakes are frequent. The two countries sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” which is responsible for 90 percent of earthquakes, according to the USGS.

Reactions

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, in exile after leaving Venezuela in December 2025, took to X to send prayers and wish strength to Venezuelans. “May strength, tranquility, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time,” she wrote.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele expressed solidarity with Venezuela following the earthquakes, saying his country’s “heart is with the people of Venezuela during these difficult times.” “We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” Bukele wrote.

In the US, Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar of Florida said her “thoughts and prayers” were with Venezuela and expressed support for families affected, those still waiting for answers and first responders.

“The strength of the Venezuelan people has been tested time and again,” she wrote. “I have no doubt they will face this moment with the same resilience, courage, and hope that have carried them through every challenge.”