Rescue crews search Caracas rubble after deadly Venezuela quakes
Authorities declared a state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela, with initial reports putting the death toll at at least 32.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Rescue workers were searching collapsed buildings in Caracas on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, according to Al Jazeera. The disaster prompted a state of emergency and left many people trapped under debris, with initial reports putting the death toll at at least 32.
Al Jazeera reported that the quakes shook the South American country and brought down buildings in the capital. A large search-and-rescue operation was underway in Caracas as crews worked through rubble to reach survivors.
Emergency declared
Authorities declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes, Al Jazeera reported. The measure came as rescue teams responded to damaged areas in the capital and as officials worked to assess the scale of casualties and destruction.
Al Jazeera said initial reports listed at least 32 deaths. The report also said many people were believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, making the rescue effort urgent as crews searched collapsed structures.
USGS warns of severe damage
The United States Geological Survey said the earthquakes could cause a high number of casualties and extensive damage, according to Al Jazeera. That assessment added to concern over the scale of the disaster as emergency crews continued their work.
Al Jazeera described the situation as breaking news, with authorities and emergency workers still responding in the hours after the quakes. The report did not include a final casualty count.
The earthquakes hit Venezuela on June 25, 2026, according to Al Jazeera. In Caracas, the immediate focus remained on finding people alive in the debris and treating those removed from damaged buildings.
Details on the full geographic spread of the damage were not included in Al Jazeera’s initial report, but the capital was identified as a center of the rescue effort. The report said buildings had collapsed there, leaving residents trapped and forcing emergency crews into a large-scale response.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.