Update: Earthquake in Venezuela leaves 188 dead and 24,000 missing
The Venezuelan government released on Thursday (25) a grim update on the earthquakes that hit the country, bringing the total number of fatalities to 188. The provisional survey also points to 1,520 injured people and another 200 who remain trapped under rubble.
The northern region of Venezuela, including the capital Caracas, was devastated by two strong tremors on Wednesday night (24). These seismic events, considered the most intense in more than a century, resulted in the collapse of buildings and left a scene of widespread destruction throughout the area.
Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan Parliament, was responsible for publicizing the new panorama of the victims. He reported that the government has so far counted 250 buildings that have completely collapsed or been severely affected by the tremors.
According to Rodríguez, the current survey is just an initial estimate. Rescuers work tirelessly to locate trapped people and rescue survivors. The mobilization of search groups by the local population already points to more than 24 thousand individuals with unknown whereabouts.
Several social media platforms are full of testimonies and photographic records of the devastation, showing the scale of the buildings that were reduced to rubble.
The international community responded quickly, with nations such as the United States and Brazil already confirming the sending of specialized teams to support search and rescue operations.
Leia Também
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo reaffirms his historic legacy and prepares to shine in the 2026 World Cup
Portugal draws goalless with Colombia in the 2026 World Cup and Cristiano Ronaldo has a lackluster performance
VAR decides to cancel Colombia’s goal against Portugal after a thorough analysis of the tip of the boot, impacting the classification in Group K of the 2026 World Cup
How seismic tremors shook Venezuela
The two major earthquakes that shook Venezuela were notable for their rapid succession, less than a minute apart and a distance of just five kilometers between the epicenters. The most intense shock had its point of origin in the town of El Guayabo, approximately 168 km from the metropolis of Caracas.
Several aftershocks were felt in coastal areas adjacent to the capital, including La Guaira, which reported severe damage. Due to the instability, Caracas international airport had its operations suspended.
The magnitude of the tremors, recorded at 7.2 and 7.5, combined with the shallow depth of the epicenters, is a crucial factor in understanding the vast area of destruction. Tremors closer to the surface tend to be felt with greater intensity, increasing the damage.
The occurrence of earthquakes in regions with high population density further aggravated the situation. Preliminary calculations by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicate that, considering these variables, the final death count could, regrettably, exceed the mark of 10 thousand victims.
