An earthquake occurred in Venezuela on the evening of June 24, APA reports.
Two series of tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, were recorded approximately 40 seconds apart . Their epicenters were located 10 kilometers apart in the Venezuelan state of Yaracuy.
The death toll has reached 188, with another 1,520 people injured, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez.
Venezuelan authorities have declared a state of emergency.
Several buildings collapsed in Caracas as a result of strong tremors , Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said.
Venezuelan authorities have declared a state of emergency following the earthquake, Reuters reported, citing the president's authorized representative, Delcy Rodriguez.
Caracas' Maiquetia International Airport is closed due to damage .
The BBC broadcast footage from Caracas. It shows the ruins of several buildings, including at least one multi-story building, and lampposts lying on the pavement in clouds of settling dust. People standing in the streets, having fled or been evacuated from buildings. The broadcaster reports that a bank building in Caracas may have been destroyed and that residents of Bogotá, the capital of neighboring Colombia, also felt tremors.
International monitoring service NetBlocks reported internet outages in Venezuela following the earthquake.
Cabello also noted that several buildings, including residential buildings, collapsed in the seismically active Altamira and Palos Grandes areas of Caracas, resulting in casualties. There were also damage and casualties in other areas of the capital.
The minister reported that rescue services, firefighters, police units and civil defense volunteers are clearing out destroyed buildings and providing assistance to victims.
He called on citizens to leave damaged buildings, provide assistance to victims, and not obstruct traffic.
The earthquake in Venezuela has caused widespread destruction to residential infrastructure, according to Gabriela González, a correspondent for Colombian radio station Rádio Caracol.
She estimates that damage of this scale has not been recorded for more than 40 years, complicating government efforts to help victims.
The country's authorities have suspended gas supplies to homes due to damage to buildings, Cabello said, as quoted by El Universal.
At least 15 homes were completely destroyed in the northern Venezuelan state of La Guaira after tremors recorded Wednesday evening, CNN reported. This information was confirmed by the President of the National Assembly (parliament) of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez.
The Venezuelan government has declared the coastal state of La Guaira a disaster zone, TeleSUR reported in X.
According to him, in the affected region, classes have been temporarily cancelled and the work of commercial and government structures has been suspended, with the exception of enterprises in the essential services sector.
Authorities are accommodating citizens who have lost their homes or whose homes have sustained significant structural damage in hotels and temporary shelters.
In addition, public and private medical institutions provide emergency care to the wounded.
The public was advised to use the Benap digital platform to promptly report damage to housing, as well as to transmit information about missing persons.
The Venezuelan capital was at the epicenter of the recent earthquake. The city's infrastructure suffered significant damage, Venezuelan journalist Jaison Rauceo reported on the Peruvian radio station RPP.
In addition to Caracas, the city of Valencia was severely damaged, he noted.
Venezuelan authorities and the civil defense system have begun rescue operations following the devastating earthquake, Rodriguez said on the Venezolana de Televisión television channel.
She later reported that about 30 aftershocks were recorded after the earthquake.
Venezuelan authorities have announced the establishment of a $200 million fund to help rebuild infrastructure.
Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez called on citizens to provide assistance in the wake of the earthquake by donating water, medicine, and other essential supplies.
Residents of Caracas and other cities across the country are forced to spend the night on the streets after the earthquake destroyed many homes, according to Gabriela González, a correspondent for Colombian radio station Radio Caracol.
Flight control in Venezuelan airspace is proceeding as normal, a source in the country's air traffic control service reported.
***14:52
The death toll from the earthquake that struck Venezuela has risen to 164, Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez said, APA reports.
According to her, the number of people injured as a result of the natural disaster has reached 971.
***
09:21
At least 32 people have been killed as a result of the earthquake that struck Venezuela, acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez said, APA reports.
According to the information, 700 people were injured as a result of the natural disaster.
Many people are reported missing.
***
09:10
Two strong earthquakes struck off the coasts of Japan and Venezuela within a few minutes of each other, APA reports.
Several people have reportedly been killed as a result of the earthquakes.
According to the information, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Venezuela. The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the city of Morón, with its hypocenter at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. At least several high-rise residential buildings were reportedly partially destroyed.
According to Reuters, citing Delcy Rodríguez, the Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency following the earthquake.
Rodríguez also announced that Caracas' Maiquetía International Airport had been closed due to damage.
Following the earthquake, the authorities issued a tsunami warning for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At almost the same time, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake also struck off the coast of Japan's Iwate Prefecture. The earthquakes were recorded in the Pacific Ocean, prompting the Japanese authorities to issue a tsunami warning and monitor the potential impacts.
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