Twin powerful earthquakes struck near Morón within minutes of each other, causing widespread destruction across Venezuela, damaging key infrastructureoperations
Caracas: The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 164, while 971 people have been injured, making it one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent years.
Authorities said the casualty count is expected to increase further as rescue workers continue searching through collapsed buildings and debris in several affected regions. Emergency teams have been deployed across the country, with efforts focused on locating survivors trapped beneath damaged structures.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude and struck west of Morón, about 168 km from Caracas, at a depth of 13 km. Minutes later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit the same area at a depth of 10 km, intensifying the destruction.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed the rising death toll and declared a state of emergency as authorities intensified rescue and relief operations. “We urge our population to remain calm. We urge unity,” Rodríguez said in a televised address.
The earthquakes caused extensive damage in Caracas and several states, including Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, Yaracuy, Trujillo and La Guaira. Simón Bolívar International Airport was temporarily closed after suffering serious structural damage.
Schools have been shut, healthcare workers have been called in for emergency duty, and nearly a dozen aftershocks have been reported since the disaster. Several countries have also offered assistance to Venezuela.
With rescue operations still underway and assessments continuing in heavily affected areas, officials have warned that the number of fatalities could rise further in the coming days as more information emerges from the disaster zones.
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