Venezuela earthquakes: 32 dead, 700+ hurt; State of Emergency declared
Synopsis
Venezuela's deadliest earthquake in years struck in a one-two sequence — a 7.1 followed 60 seconds later by a 7.5 — near Moron on Wednesday night. With La Guaira declared a disaster zone and still cut off, the confirmed toll of 32 dead and 700 injured is almost certainly an undercount. A national State of Emergency is in force.
Key Takeaways
Two earthquakes — magnitude 7.1 and magnitude 7.5 — struck near Moron, Venezuela , approximately 160 km west of Caracas , on Wednesday, 25 June .
At least 32 people killed and more than 700 injured ; toll excludes La Guaira state due to connectivity blackout.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a State of Emergency across the entire national territory.
Maiquetia airport has been closed due to earthquake damage.
Both quakes struck at a shallow depth of 10 km , intensifying surface destruction; aftershock risk remains high.
The USGS has assessed the event as likely to cause high casualties and extensive damage.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700, according to acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who declared a State of Emergency across the entire country. The tremors also forced the closure of Maiquetia airport and left the coastal state of La Guaira — described by Rodriguez as a 'disaster zone' — largely cut off due to connectivity failures.
The Earthquakes: Scale and Sequence
The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude 7.1 quake at 2204 GMT on Wednesday, followed just one minute later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor. Both struck near the coastal town of Moron, approximately 160 km west of Caracas. Critically, both quakes were shallow — at a depth of just 10 km — a factor that seismologists note can significantly amplify surface destruction.
La Guaira: The Hardest-Hit Zone
Rodriguez identified the northern coastal state of La Guaira as the epicentre of the humanitarian crisis, stating that dozens of buildings had completely collapsed there. Crucially, the preliminary toll of 32 deaths and 700-plus injuries does not yet include La Guaira, as ongoing connectivity problems are preventing accurate reporting from the region. The true casualty count is therefore expected to rise significantly.
Government Response and Emergency Measures
'Following the strong earthquakes recorded this afternoon in the country, we have declared a State of Emergency throughout the national territory. We call on all citizens to remain alert, safe, and as calm as possible,' Rodriguez said in a post on X. Security forces, medical teams, and civil protection units have been deployed nationwide for rescue and relief operations.
Interior, Justice and Peace Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed that several buildings collapsed in the eastern part of the Caracas metropolitan area, though he provided no immediate casualty figures for those sites. Cabello urged residents to avoid staying inside buildings in the coming hours due to the risk of strong aftershocks.
Regional Impact and What Comes Next
The quakes were also felt strongly across several cities in neighbouring Colombia, according to Colombian media reports. The USGS has assessed the event as likely to result in high casualties and extensive damage — a projection that aligns with the shallow depth and dual-tremor sequence. With La Guaira still largely unreachable, rescue teams face a race against time as aftershock risk remains elevated.
Point of View
Not a ceiling. La Guaira — the state Rodriguez herself called a 'disaster zone' — is not yet counted in the toll of 32 dead and 700 injured, because connectivity has collapsed there. A back-to-back 7.1 and 7.5 sequence at just 10 km depth, near a densely built coastal zone, is a worst-case seismic scenario. Venezuela's pre-existing infrastructure vulnerabilities — exacerbated by years of economic contraction and deferred maintenance — mean the structural damage is likely to be disproportionate even by regional standards. The real test now is whether emergency response can reach La Guaira before the aftershock window closes.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong were the Venezuela earthquakes on 25 June?
The US Geological Survey recorded two successive quakes: a magnitude 7.1 followed one minute later by a magnitude 7.5. Both struck near the coastal town of Moron, about 160 km west of Caracas, at a shallow depth of 10 km.
How many people have died in the Venezuela earthquake?
At least 32 people have been confirmed dead and more than 700 injured, according to acting President Delcy Rodriguez. Critically, these figures do not yet include casualties from La Guaira state, which remains cut off due to connectivity problems, so the toll is expected to rise.
What emergency measures has Venezuela declared?
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a State of Emergency across the entire national territory. Maiquetia airport has been closed, and security forces, medical services, and civil protection teams have been deployed nationwide for rescue and relief operations.
Which area of Venezuela was worst affected?
The coastal state of La Guaira in northern Venezuela was described by Rodriguez as a 'disaster zone,' with dozens of buildings reported to have completely collapsed. The area is currently experiencing connectivity blackouts, hampering damage assessment.
Was the earthquake felt in other countries?
Yes. Colombian media reported that the tremors were felt strongly in several cities across neighbouring Colombia, underscoring the scale of the seismic event.
