In brief
A pair of powerful earthquakes struck Caracas, with the second one measuring a magnitude 7.5. The shocks caused numerous buildings to collapse, forcing residents into open streets for safety. Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in response. Live footage shows the devastation and the frantic reactions of citizens. The event ranks among the strongest quakes to hit the country in the past century.
Two powerful earthquakes hit the Venezuelan capital Caracas just seconds apart. The second quake measured a magnitude 7.5, one of the strongest tremors recorded in the country in a century.
Residents were seen rushing into the streets for safety as buildings across the city collapsed and windows shattered. BBC reporters captured the tremors on video, showing emergency crews and civilians in distress.
In response to the devastation, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency. The order enables rapid deployment of emergency services and the mobilisation of national resources.
The seismic event underscores the region’s vulnerability to tectonic activity, especially along the Pacific Ring of Fire where strong quakes are frequent. International agencies welcome the swift mobilisation of disaster relief efforts.
For further coverage, follow updates from dedicated news feeds that track earthquake activity and emergency responses in the Caribbean and Latin America.