164 dead in devastating, back-to-back earthquakes

Spain‘s Defense Ministry said that 54 army rescuers were ready to deploy and assist in dealing with the aftermath of the quakes.

The contingent from the army’s emergencies unit “combines the use of specially trained search dogs and specific devices like rescue cameras or geophones,” the ministry wrote online.

Despite sometimes difficult ties in recent years amid the international ostracism of Venezuela’s governments under former Presidents Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, Spain has close historical and cultural ties to Venezuela.

It is home to the world’s largest population of Venezuelan emigres besides the US.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez issued a drastically increased death toll early on Thursday, saying that at least 164 people had died following the magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 quakes and other seismic activity.

At least 971 people were injured, Rodriguez said.

Rescuers had been working through the night in the capital Caracas and other parts of the country.

The main pair of quakes’ epicenters were located fairly far to the west of Caracas, near the city of San Felipe. But some of the smaller aftershocks were much closer to the major population center.

Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela, even though it sits near multiple fault lines along the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Other countries on the Pacific coast, including Mexico, Chile and the western edge of the United States, are positioned along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, responsible for about 90% of the world’s earthquakes.

However, several countries that once faced devastating losses have proven that living with earthquakes doesn’t have to mean living in fear. Their experiences show that resilience isn’t just about surviving the next earthquake but about building systems that protect lives before the ground begins to shake.

How have they done it? DW answers here.

Both Germany and the European Union extended on Thursday support to Venezuela in dealing with the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes.

EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said the bloc was following the situation “with our field staff and partners there.”

“EU-funded partners are already providing help on the ground, Copernicus is activated & we stand ready to step up assistance,” Lahbib said, in reference to the bloc’s satellite surveillance system.

Berlin meanwhile offered six military transport planes to aid the Latin American nation in search and rescue missions.

“The German armed forces stands ready and can make up to six A400M transport aircraft available at short notice as soon as support is requested from us,” said Boris Pistorius in a statement.

China on Thursday said Beijing was ready to send any help Venezuela needs after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 32 people and injured hundreds.

“China is willing to provide what help it can in an appropriate manner according to the needs of the Venezuelan side,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

He added that currently there were no reports of casualties among Chinese citizens.

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan both expressed solidarity with Venezuela on Thursday after the South American country was struck by deadly twin earthquakes.

Modi extended India’s condolences to the “families who have lost their loved ones” and sent prayers for the injured.

He said, “India stands ready to extend all possible assistance.”

Meanwhile, Sharif said he was “deeply saddened by the devastation and loss of life” and expressed solidarity on behalf of the people of Pakistan with all those affected.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday extended the United States’ “deepest condolences” to the people of Venezuela in a post on X and said that immediate assistance was being dispatched following the deadly twin quakes.

“Our hearts are with all those who have lost loved ones, those injured, and the courageous rescue workers working tirelessly in the aftermath,” Rubio wrote.

He said at the behest of US President Donald Trump “the State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”

The back-to-back earthquakes which have rocked Venezuela on Wednesday have killed at least 32 people, interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said.

Over 700 others were injured, she added.

“Dozens 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,” she said.

Rodriguez said she did not yet have data on La Guaira, located near the capital.

The powerful 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.

Latin American countries stepped up to offer help to Venezuela following the two major quakes that struck the nation on Wednesday.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele posted on X that “300 rescuers and paramedics, along with 50 tons of equipment, medicines, and essential supplies, are ready to depart for Caracas.”

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said he has spoken to Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez to offer their “deepest solidarity.”

Abinader said “specialized teams for search, rescue, and emergency care from our Armed Forces will depart for Venezuela” early on Thursday.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also posted on X saying he has instructed the Brazilian Embassy in Caracas to assess the situation in Venezuela and help.

Several other countries also expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States was prepared to provide assistance to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the South American nation.

“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 posted on his Truth Social platform.

“The USA 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. Early reports are not good!!!”

Venezuela has not released the number of casualties or extent of the destruction.

The magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck central Venezuela on Wednesday just 39 seconds ahead of a second more powerful quake was a foreshock, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Foreshocks are earthquakes that precede larger earthquakes in the same location. Because of this, it is only possible to identify a foreshock as such retroactively, after the main quake has actually struck.

On Wednesday, Venezuela was hit by back-to-back powerful earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, causing extensive damage in the capital, Caracas.

According to the USGS, the second quake was the mainshock of a severe seismic doublet sequence.

A seismic doublet is defined as two earthquakes of similar magnitude that occur close in time and proximity, the USGS said.

In September 2025, the country experienced a seismic doublet when magnitude 6.2 and 6.3 earthquakes shook western and northern Venezuela.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced that the US was in touch with Venezuelan authorities following two massive earthquakes in the South American country.

“The US stands with the Venezuelan people in the aftermath of this evening’s devastating earthquakes,” Landau wrote on X.

He said that Washington was mobilizing assistance for Venezuela.

US Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance Jeremy Lewin said the US had already deployed a disaster assistance team and was coordinating critical assistance for people affected by the earthquakes.

“The US will be sending search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the crucial first days after this tragic natural disaster,” he wrote on X.

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez has declared a state of emergency after massive earthquakes destroyed buildings in Caracas.

Accompanied by her brother Jorge, who is the head of the National Assembly, and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, Rodriguez said that she was extending her condolences to the families of those who “sadly suffered the loss of a family member.”

She did not provide a death toll or a figure for those injured.

Rodriguez explained that rescue efforts are now the top priority, adding that school classes would be suspended and train services would be halted.

She said that the Simon Bolivar Airport in Maiquetia, near Caracas, is closed due to damage.

The United States Embassy in Caracas said it was “closely monitoring” the situation after two powerful quakes hit central Venezuela on Wednesday.

The US Embassy urged American citizens in a post on X to “avoid damaged areas and do not enter damaged buildings” and “seek secure shelter.”

The embassy also asked people to monitor both the US State Department website and local media websites.

The two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 destroyed buildings in Caracas and drove people into the streets.