FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Venezuela is in a state of emergency after two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale shook the country. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that the death toll could be between 10,000 and 100,000...
An unspeakable tragedy struck Venezuela after two very strong earthquakes. The country's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, along with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and National Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodríguez, addressed the nation in a televised statement, officially declaring a state of emergency in the country. She also appointed a general to oversee emergency operations.
The devastating quake struck during a national holiday, a day off commemorating the historic military victory of 1821 that brought the country independence from Spain. As such, most citizens were in their homes at the time of the quake.
The disaster was caused by a rare geological phenomenon, as the country was hit by two major earthquakes just seconds apart. The first tremor, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, struck at 6:04 p.m. local time, about 160 kilometers west of Caracas, where the Caribbean tectonic plate meets the South American plate.
Before the first tremor ended, another, even more powerful, followed, with a magnitude of 7.5.
The earthquakes were felt across Venezuela and also shook the Colombian capital, Bogotá. Due to their strength, authorities immediately issued a tsunami warning for Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, which was lifted an hour later.
According to the French agency AFP, more than 20 strong aftershocks have been recorded so far.
The scene in the capital Caracas, which was also hit by a devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake in 1967, resembles a war zone. Dozens of high-rise buildings and apartments have collapsed, while the San Bernardino and Palos Grandes neighborhoods have suffered catastrophic damage.
The streets are filled with frightened residents who have abandoned their homes, taking their families and pets with them. Meanwhile, the city is plunged into darkness due to a general power outage.
Journalists and eyewitnesses report scenes of chaos. People trapped under the concrete rubble can be heard shouting: "Help! We're here!"
Authorities and rescue teams are racing against time throughout the night, while residents have been urged not to return to buildings and stay in public squares.
In the municipality of Chacao, Mayor Gustavo Duque said rescue teams had pulled 18 people alive from a collapsed building alone, while in the coastal state of Falcón at least 22 people were reported injured and 15 people were missing.
In addition to Caracas and Falcón, the greatest damage was recorded along the northern coast, in the states of La Guaira, Aragua and Carabobo.
Severe damage to infrastructure, airport closed
The country's infrastructure has suffered severe damage. Maiquetía International Airport, Venezuela's main international airport, was immediately closed due to serious structural damage.
Video footage shows clouds of dust falling from the ceilings and terrified passengers running through corridors to escape.
At the same time, hospitals such as the Caracas Clinical Hospital have placed staff on double night shifts to cope with the influx of wounded, while school classes have been suspended for the rest of the week.
Major oil infrastructure on Lake Maracaibo does not appear to have been directly affected, as none of the cities with the most damage include such facilities.
However, energy companies, including state-owned PDVSA and Chevron, are verifying the condition of their personnel before making official assessments. Market sources warn that the prolonged power outage could temporarily affect crude oil production.
Alarming estimates of the number of victims
Although interim president Delcy Rodríguez expressed condolences to the families of the victims without releasing an official toll, the US Geological Survey (USGS) warns that the disaster is likely to be very severe.
According to the USGS assessment system, there is a 44% probability that the death toll will be between 10,000 and 100,000, bringing back memories of the historic earthquake of 1812.
Rodríguez's government, which according to the text took over the country after the ouster of Nicolás Maduro by the US in January, announced that it would seek urgent funding from multilateral organizations for reconstruction.
International reaction
The tragedy caused an immediate reaction from the international community.
US President Donald Trump, in a post on the Truth Social platform, spoke of a "catastrophic number of victims," based on initial reports, emphasizing that the United States is ready and able to help Venezuela.
He added that he has instructed all US government agencies to act swiftly to support Venezuela, while the US Embassy in Caracas urged American citizens to seek safe haven.
Venezuela is located in a zone of high seismic activity, where the Caribbean tectonic plate meets the South American plate. According to the USGS, about 30,000 people died in the powerful earthquake of 1812, which caused extensive destruction in the cities of Mérida and Caracas. / Pamphlet /
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