Trending 
Venezuela has declared a state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck the country within seconds of each other, triggering widespread destruction, airport closure, and panic in the capital.
Interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed that at least 20 aftershocks followed the initial tremors, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, according to the United States Geological Survey. The agency described the event as a “doublet,” noting that the second, stronger quake occurred just 39 seconds after the first.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said authorities were still assessing casualties, confirming injuries and structural collapse in multiple locations.
“We have some damaged structures and we don’t want any kind of accident involving gas to occur,” he said, adding that gas supplies had been shut off in several buildings as a precaution.
In Caracas, residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook violently and people rushed into the streets. One of the most striking accounts came from bank employee Odalis Escalona.
“The stairs came away, the whole wall cracked. Things fell from the ceiling. It was horrible,” she said.
In another account, shopkeeper Heidi Romero recalled being trapped inside a shopping centre. “It was unbelievable, I don’t even know how long it lasted,” she said. “We went out through the emergency stairs; that’s how they got us out.”
Rescue efforts were seen in the Altamira district, where a 22-storey building collapsed. Volunteers searched through rubble while residents called out for missing relatives.
Carmen Guedez, 69, said she was trapped with her bedridden sister during the tremor. “It kept getting stronger,” she said. “We couldn’t get out. The neighbors are still out on the street.”
Authorities said the hardest-hit regions include Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda and La Guaira. Maiquetía International Airport, near Caracas, was shut down due to “serious damage” to its infrastructure.
The quake was also felt beyond Venezuela, with tremors reaching Colombia and triggering evacuations in Bogotá, while alerts were recorded across hundreds of locations. Seismologists warned of continued aftershocks but ruled out the risk of a tsunami.
Shortly after, a separate 6.9-magnitude quake struck northern Japan, though no damage or casualties were reported.
