Strong earthquakes strike Venezuela, high casualties feared as country grapples with economic crisis

Strong earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday, causing building collapses in Caracas and raising fears of heavy casualties and widespread destruction in a nation already strained by years of severe economic hardship.

A magnitude 7.2 foreshock struck about 160 km (100 miles) west of the capital near Morón in Yaracuy state, followed less than a minute later by a 7.5 mainshock – the strongest tremor in Venezuela since 1900. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warned that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” with an initial estimate suggesting fatalities could range from 10,000 to 100,000.

Rescue teams worked through the night in Caracas neighborhoods such as San Bernardino and Baruta, where multiple buildings collapsed. Local officials reported extracting survivors from rubble, with at least three deaths confirmed in one area and dozens injured elsewhere. In the coastal state of Falcón, 22 people were injured and 15 remained missing. Residents described panic as people rushed into streets during a public holiday, with some comparing the shaking to the deadly 1967 Caracas quake.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency across seven states and said the government would request international assistance. Venezuela’s largest airport in Maiquetía was closed due to damage, classes were suspended, and hospitals braced for an influx of injured patients. Oil infrastructure appeared largely unaffected initially, though power outages could impact production.

The disaster strikes at a particularly vulnerable moment for Venezuela, which has endured one of the worst economic crises in modern history. Decades of mismanagement, hyperinflation that once reached tens of thousands of percent, and a sharp contraction in GDP have left the country with crumbling infrastructure, widespread poverty affecting around 70% of the population, and the emigration of nearly 8 million people.

As of 2026, the economy remains fragile, with GDP hovering around $100 billion, triple-digit inflation, and public debt ballooning to an estimated $170-240 billion – roughly double GDP. The interim government under Rodríguez is pursuing a major debt restructuring to regain access to international markets, but analysts describe the situation as unsustainable amid weak oil exports and limited fiscal resources.

This economic fragility is expected to complicate recovery efforts, as aging buildings and limited emergency resources amplify the quake’s impact. The United States has said it is mobilizing assistance, while Rodríguez has appealed to multilateral organizations for support.

Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates meet. The quakes serve as a stark reminder of the country’s compounded vulnerabilities – natural hazards layered on top of a protracted humanitarian and economic crisis.

With Reuters

Caption: Emergency responders conduct rescue operations in Caracas, Venezuela, 24 June 2026. Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, including a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, causing buildings to collapse as authorities assessed damage and possible casualties, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and local officials. EPA/RAYNER PENA