{"id":1072,"date":"2026-06-25T05:08:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T05:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1072"},"modified":"2026-06-25T05:08:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T05:08:34","slug":"acting-venezuela-president-rodriguez-says-32-dead-and-700-injured-after-earthquakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1072","title":{"rendered":"Acting Venezuela President Rodr\u00edguez says 32 dead and 700 injured after earthquakes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) \u2014 Acting Venezuela President Rodr\u00edguez said early Thursday there are at least 32 people dead and 700 injured after back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck the country Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n

Read more Powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes off northern Japan. No tsunami warning<\/a><\/p>\n

She warned the toll was expected to rise as rescuers search collapsed buildings and emergency crews reach devastated areas after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region.<\/p>\n

La Guaria apparently was the hardest hit state, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDozens of buildings have collapsed and we are engaged in the arduous task of rescuing the lives that God allows us to save. The state of La Guaira is facing a true tragedy and has become a disaster zone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP\u2019s earlier story follows below.<\/p>\n

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) \u2014 Powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets as communities across the South American country sustained damage.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Acting President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday. She said the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes shortly after 6 p.m. caused damage in several states but she did not provide figures of fatalities, injuries or homes and buildings affected.<\/p>\n

The earthquakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities and areas impacted as far as Brazil\u2019s Amazon about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Venezuela\u2019s capital Caracas.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The earthquakes damaged and closed Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar International Airport near Caracas, the country\u2019s main airport, Rodr\u00edguez said, adding that subway and natural gas services in Caracas were canceled. She urged Venezuelans to report any damages through a government app.<\/p>\n

Rodr\u00edguez said school classes would be canceled for several days. The Ministry of Education said some school buildings would be used as shelters and donation centers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe urge our population to remain calm,\u201d said Rodr\u00edguez, who asked health care professionals to report to hospitals to assist the injured. \u201cWe urge unity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Country hit twice by large quakes<\/h2>\n

The U.S. Geological Survey initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2. Its epicenter was west of Mor\u00f3n on the country\u2019s Caribbean coast about 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometers (13.6 miles).<\/p>\n

The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) with an epicenter 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Mor\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

In the coastal state of Falcon, Gov. V\u00edctor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalized and there were 15 people trapped in the hours after the earthquake.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n
\nSign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong>
\n Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n
\n