Key facts
- Two powerful earthquakes, a 7.2-magnitude foreshock and a 7.5-magnitude mainshock, struck Venezuela's northern coast.
- The earthquakes, occurring 39 seconds apart, are among the strongest in the nation's history.
- At least 188 people have died, with hundreds more feared dead and thousands injured.
- Severe damage was reported in La Guaira and Caracas, with buildings collapsed.
- International aid, including search and rescue teams, is being sent to Venezuela.
Two powerful earthquakes, a 7.2-magnitude foreshock and a 7.5-magnitude mainshock, struck Venezuela's northern coast 39 seconds apart, causing widespread destruction and casualties. The tremors, among the strongest in the nation's history, resulted from shallow strike-slip faulting near the boundary of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. At least 188 people have died, with hundreds more feared dead and thousands injured. Severe damage was reported in La Guaira, described as a disaster zone, and Caracas, where buildings collapsed, power was lost, and the main airport was closed. Rescue efforts are underway, with international aid, including specialized urban search and rescue teams from the U.S., Qatar, and Mexico, en route to assist. The Venezuelan government has established a $200 million reconstruction fund.