Caracas: Venezuela declared a nationwide state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck the country within minutes of each other, causing widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck late Wednesday, followed by a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor about a minute later. Both earthquakes were centred near the coastal town of Morón, around 160 km west of the capital, Caracas.
The powerful tremors were felt across large parts of the country, damaging buildings in several cities, including Caracas. Reports indicated that some structures collapsed, while videos and images of the destruction quickly spread on social media.
Officials said the earthquakes occurred at a shallow depth of about 10 km, increasing their destructive impact. Interior, Justice and Peace Minister Diosdado Cabello said damage had been reported from multiple regions.
Massive 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes hits Venezuela💀#Venezuela #Earthquake pic.twitter.com/TE7QVTgnmB
— God (@Indic_God) June 25, 2026
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and urged citizens to remain calm while following official safety instructions.
Reporte #EnImagenes
Este video es de La Guaira 💔
Tras el fuerte terremoto de magnitud 7.5 que sacudió hoy Venezuela:
Datos principales:
– Hora: 18:04 (hora local)
– Epicentro: 28 km al noroeste de Montalbán, estado Carabobo (profundidad 13.2 km)¿Dónde se sintió?… pic.twitter.com/iold6VFJjf
— Bárbara Uzcátegui Sanz (@BarbaraUSanz) June 25, 2026
The government also announced the temporary closure of Maiquetia International Airport due to earthquake-related damage. Security personnel, medical teams and civil defence units have been deployed across affected areas to carry out rescue and relief operations.
