The acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed that at least 32 people have died and 700 have been injured, with the warning that the number of victims will increase as rescuers progress through the rubble of collapsed buildings. The earthquakes, with the epicenter near the coastal town of Morón, shook a large part of the national territory shortly after 6 p.m.
Rodríguez formally declared a state of emergency and designated the state of La Guaira as a "disaster zone", being the most affected area with dozens of collapsed structures. In Caracas, the president ordered the closing of the Simón Bolívar International Airport and the suspension of critical services such as the metro, natural gas, and school classes. Rescue efforts have already brought images of hope, such as the rescue of three children who were saved alive from the rubble in La Guaira, as reported by the state television channel VTV.
The magnitude of the disaster has triggered an immediate international response coordinated by Rodríguez, who held phone conversations with the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. The president thanked President Donald Trump for deploying search and humanitarian aid teams, as well as leaders from nations like El Salvador, Mexico, Qatar, and Bolivia, who have already sent specialized personnel for relief efforts.
In the streets of the capital, residents like Héctor Ricci described scenes of panic where buildings "shook from side to side" with an "unreal" force, forcing thousands of people to spend the night in cars and metro stations to avoid damaged structures. The Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Cabello, has urged citizens to remain calm and prioritize the care of the elderly and children as national emergency protocols are activated. Despite Venezuela being located on geological faults, earthquakes of this intensity are unusual in the region.