At least 235 people are dead and about 40,000 missing following back-to-back earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon.
Rescuers continued to search through mounds of rubble after tremors of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck within 39 seconds of each other west of the capital Caracas.
The health minister said nearly 4,300 people were injured, according to Associated Press.
Venezuelans described the scenes as “like a horror movie” as emergency workers scrambled through the damage while dazed survivors were rushed away on stretchers.
Families were seen desperately seeking help for loved ones who were feared trapped.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes caused building collapses in the capital and forced the closure of the nation’s main international airport.
The US Geological Survey said there was a 44 per cent probability that fatalities could exceed 10,000.
Read MoreNeighbors dig through Venezuela rubble to search for loved ones after 2 deadly earthquakes
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What is an earthquake ‘doublet’ and why is Venezuela prone to deadly tremors?
Key Points
- Death toll rises to 235
- Venezuelan earthquake survivor: 'I thought I was going to die'
- Army and heavy machinery to be deployed to worst hit areas
- UN will 'mobilize the capabilities of its system' to help Venezuelans: Delcy Rodríguez
In pictures: Rescue efforts continue in worst hit La Guaira
08:15 , Vishwam Sankaran
What to expect in coming days
07:45 , Vishwam SankaranSeismologists caution people living in Venezuela to be aware of aftershocks that could be felt in the coming weeks following the massive twin earthquakes.
The US Geological Survey warns that there is an 84 per cent chance of one or more aftershocks larger than magnitude 5, which can be damaging, within the next week.
Notable quake, preliminary info: M 7.5 - 16 km SW of Morón, Venezuela https://t.co/abXtXq2euP
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) June 24, 2026
There could be smaller aftershocks of magnitude 3 or higher within the next week, the American agency said.
"At the time of this forecast, there have been 3 magnitude 3 or higher aftershocks, which are strong enough to be felt nearby, and 1 magnitude 5 or higher aftershocks, which are large enough to do damage," it said in its latest update.
"Aftershock rates will decrease over time, but may remain elevated over the following year or longer," according to the USGS.
Different earthquakes
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) June 25, 2026
- there were two earthquakes within ~40 seconds of each other
The agency said there is a one in five chance of magnitude 6 and above aftershocks within the next week, adding that it is most likely that "0 to 2 of these will occur".
"There is a 2 per cent chance of magnitude 7 and above aftershocks within the next week; such an earthquake is possible but with a low probability," USGS said.
"There is a 1 in 100 chance that this earthquake becomes a foreshock to a larger earthquake (magnitude 7.5 or greater) in the next week; such an earthquake is possible but with a low probability," it said.
International aid headed to Venezuela
07:15 , Vishwam SankaranHumanitarian organisations and governments across the globe are sending rescue teams and case for quake-hit Venezuela, where hundreds are feared dead, and thousands are missing.
Officials say at least 235 people were killed and over 4,300 injured from the twin quakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, among the strongest in Venezuela in over a century.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the organisation was coordinating the deployment of search-and-rescue teams.
Long day for our superb team in Venezuela and at HQ. We’re coordinating surge of urban search and rescue teams from across world, with more on way. Extra colleagues surging in tonight alongside Swiss responders. I’ve released 15m USD from emergency fund. Every hour counts. https://t.co/LtYHa6LE2p
— Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) June 25, 2026
"The coming days will require a massive collective effort to support the government-led response and help communities," Mr Fletcher said.
US said it is mobilising $150 million in humanitarian aid and two urban search-and-rescue units for Venezuela.
SECRETARY RUBIO: "I had an opportunity to talk earlier this morning with Delcy Rodríguez, the acting President. We're already deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles." pic.twitter.com/Ptvxg8u5ms
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 25, 2026
"That's their most immediate need right now, is search and rescue efforts," US secretary of state Marco Rubio said earlier.
The founder of humanitarian meal provider World Central Kitchen, Chef Jose Andres, said he's contributing $1 million to help Venezuela.
Ya se encuentra en camino el primero de tres aviones que trasladan al personal, equipo e insumos que brindarán ayuda a nuestros hermanos venezolanos.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) June 25, 2026
Que Dios los guíe y los proteja durante esta misión 🇸🇻🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/pCOQAFmZcT
Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, announced on X that 300 rescue workers and paramedics are prepared to travel to Venezuela, along with 50 tons of medical supplies.
Countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama, as well as France, Spain and Italy, have all announced deployment of emergency rescue teams to help the quake-hit country.
Movement of Pacific and Caribbean tectonic plates behind Venezuela quake
06:45 , Vishwam SankaranThe devastating earthquakes in Venezuela are related to the movement of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates and the Boconó fault system, a 500km-long active geological fault running through the Mérida Andes and northeastern Colombia, researchers say.
Two blocks of the Earth's crust slipped in a side-to-side manner with respect to each other, triggering the quake, according to Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, a coalition of seismologists monitoring earthquake activity in the region.
"Strike-slip faults tend to produce strong seismic shaking, especially near and along the length of the fault that moved," Dr Tobin told the New York Times.
He compared the event to the movement of the Anatolian Fault, which devastated Turkey in 2023.
Watch: Rescue operations begin as 7.5 magnitude earthquake hits Venezuela
06:15 , Rachel DobkinVenezuela earthquake mapped: Death toll ‘could exceed 10,000’ after powerful twin tremors
05:45 , Stuti MishraTwo powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700.
Authorities warned the death toll was likely to run into the thousands as the back-to-back tremors collapsed buildings across the capital Caracas and surrounding areas.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit about 160km west of Caracas and it was followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, the US Geological Survey said, adding that the death toll would most likely exceed 10,000.
Read on...
Venezuela earthquake mapped: Death toll ‘could exceed 10,000’ after twin tremors
Delcy Rodríguez pictured overseeing rescue efforts
05:15 , Rachel DobkinVenezeula’s Ministry of Communication and Information has shared photos of acting President Delcy Rodríguez overseeing rescue efforts after the country was devastated by back-to-back earthquakes.
#Galería 📸 | Presidenta (E) Rodríguez supervisa labores de rescate en Macuto por doble terremoto pic.twitter.com/SJb8ci6nne
— Ministerio de Comunicación e Información (@mippci_ven) June 26, 2026
UN will 'mobilize the capabilities of its system' to help Venezuelans: Delcy Rodríguez
04:45 , Rachel DobkinThe United Nations will “mobilize the capabilities of its system and its agencies” to help Venezuelans in the aftermath of back-to-back earthquakes, the country’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has said.
“I have spoken with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, who has expressed to me his deepest solidarity with the Venezuelan people and his condolences for the tragedy that is mourning Venezuela”, Rodríguez wrote on X.
In a follow-up post, the Venezuelan interim president said the UN “has expressed to us its full willingness to mobilize the capabilities of its system and its agencies, with the purpose of supporting the efforts to address the emergency that our country is facing”.
In pictures: Buildings turn to rubble after back-to-back earthquakes
04:15 , Rachel Dobkin
ICYMI: Trump offers to help ‘great friends’ in Venezuela after devastating earthquakes leave dozens dead
03:45 , Owen ScottUS President Trump has offered help to his “great friends” in Venezuela after back-to-back earthquakes left dozens of people dead.
Early estimates suggest thousands of people may have been killed after the two earthquakes hit an area west of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths”, Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!”
Read on...
Trump offers to help ‘great friends’ in Venezuela after devastating earthquakes
Venezuelan earthquake survivor: 'I thought I was going to die'
03:15 , Rachel DobkinA survivor of the earthquakes in Venezuela has recalled his harrowing escape.
“I thought I was going to die. You could hear pieces of concrete breaking off the walls”, Billy Ebrin of Caracas told Al Jazeera.
Ebrin and hundreds of his neighbors ran to the ground floor of his apartment building when the shaking from the back-to-back earthquakes stopped.
“People were bumping into each other in the confusion: elderly people, people carrying their pets, even squirrels and parrots”, Ebrin said. “There were people in their underwear”.
Ebrin called the experience “terrifying”.
Death toll jumps
03:12 , Alex LangThe death toll from the Venezuela earthquakes now sits at roughly 235, the country’s health minister said and reported by the Associated Press.
The number injured now sits at 4,300.
Watch: Venezuelan resident films terrifying high-rise escape as building crumbles during earthquake
02:45 , Rachel DobkinBrazil sends 'nine tons of equipment' to help Venezuelans, president says
02:15 , Rachel DobkinBrazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced that his country has deployed “nine tons of equipment to assist in the search and rescue of victims” affected by the two earthquakes in Venezuela.
Lula said the equipment will be sent on Friday with 36 firefighters and eight technicians.
“On Saturday, we will send another flight with equipment for setting up a field hospital, one hundred solar-powered water purifiers, medications, and medical supplies for surgeries.
“We will continue to monitor the progress of the rescue operations for the victims in order to provide all necessary support to our Venezuelan brothers and sisters”, the Brazilian leader wrote on X.
Venezuelan lawmaker emphasizes importance of rescue efforts
01:45 , Rachel DobkinJorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, has emphasized the importance of rescue efforts following the two devastating earthquakes.
"This is the time to rescue people and attend to those under the rubble”, he said, per the country’s Ministry of Communication and Information.
Venezuelan leader shares photos of Dominican Republic first responders deployment
01:15 , Rachel DobkinActing president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, has shared photos of first responders from the Dominican Republic deploying to her country to help in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
Se encuentran ya en camino hacia nuestro país los primeros rescatistas provenientes de República Dominicana, para apoyar las labores de atención al pueblo venezolano ante esta terrible tragedia. pic.twitter.com/1cXfa5LVfD
— Delcy Rodríguez (@delcyrodriguezv) June 25, 2026
US deploying emergency response teams in Venezuela
Friday 26 June 2026 00:45 , Rachel DobkinThe US State Department has announced it will deploy a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team and urban search-and-rescue teams to help Venezuelans following the deadly earthquakes.
🛫 U.S. search and rescue teams are already en route to Venezuela and more support is coming. pic.twitter.com/rlLEsHjrHO
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 25, 2026
Delcy Rodríguez convenes a 'National Ecumenical Prayer' in earthquake aftermath
Friday 26 June 2026 00:15 , Rachel DobkinActing president Delcy Rodríguez has convened a “National Ecumenical Prayer” as Venezuela reels from two devastating earthquakes.
Rodríguez “made a call for spiritual unity and solidarity among all Venezuelans,” the country’s Ministry of Communication and Information announced on social media.
Pictured: Damaged buildings and streets following earthquake
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:45 , Rebecca Whittaker
Army and heavy machinery to be deployed to worst hit areas
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:15 , Rebecca WhittakerThe Venezuelan government has deployed the army and sent heavy machinery to the worst hit areas to help remove large amounts of debris.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez met with the army's general staff to coordinate urgent relief measures for La Guaira state.
In addition to removing rubble, the army is set to organise support logistics for water, food, blankets, and mattresses, as many people have lost their homes.
