Twin Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela; Death Toll Rises as Israel Prepares Aid Mission
Rescue efforts continued Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela less than a minute apart, leaving at least 164 people dead and more than 970 injured, with authorities warning the toll is expected to rise as crews search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings • Read More
Venezuela is reeling after two powerful earthquakes struck less than a minute apart Wednesday evening, leaving at least 188 people dead, more than 1,500 injured, and hundreds still trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Rescue officials warned that the death toll is expected to rise dramatically as search-and-rescue operations continue across the hardest-hit regions.
The rare seismic doublet began with a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, followed just 39 seconds later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake, making it Venezuela’s strongest earthquake in more than a century.
The epicenters were located west of Caracas, but the tremors were felt across much of northern South America and throughout the Caribbean.
Entire neighborhoods in Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira suffered catastrophic damage. Apartment buildings, offices, bridges, and public infrastructure collapsed, while power outages, disrupted communications, and damaged roads have complicated rescue efforts.
Authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency as emergency crews, soldiers, and volunteers raced to locate survivors amid dozens of aftershocks.
The United States Geological Survey issued its highest-level “Red Alert,” warning that the disaster could ultimately claim thousands of lives due to the scale of destruction and the density of the affected population. Tens of thousands of people remain unaccounted for as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble.
President Donald Trump responded shortly after the disaster in a post on Truth Social.
“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths,” Trump wrote. “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends.”
The U.S. State Department confirmed that disaster response teams, medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and search-and-rescue personnel are being mobilized in coordination with Venezuelan authorities.
Israel is also preparing to assist. Israeli officials have begun coordinating plans to dispatch a humanitarian aid delegation to Venezuela, while Israeli emergency organizations are preparing search-and-rescue personnel and medical teams to assist survivors in the aftermath of the disaster.
The Jewish community in Venezuela has also mobilized. Shluchim in Caracas immediately began reaching out to community members to verify their safety, provide assistance where needed, and offer support to families affected by the disaster. Community institutions are reportedly serving as points of contact and coordination as rescue efforts continue.
The catastrophe comes amid an unusual surge in seismic activity worldwide. Within hours of the Venezuelan disaster, a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Japan’s coast, while additional earthquakes were recorded in California and several other regions. Although those quakes caused limited damage and no major casualties, seismologists noted the concentration of significant seismic events over a short period drew global attention.
As rescue efforts continue around the clock, governments and humanitarian organizations worldwide are pledging assistance to Venezuela, while families anxiously await news of loved ones still missing beneath the rubble.
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