Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Tinshui Yeung, with Vanessa Silva reporting from La Guaira

  1. What is a 'doublet' earthquake?

    Mark Poynting
    Climate and science reporter

    Venezuela was hit by a “doublet” sequence of earthquakes, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). This is where two earthquakes of a similar magnitude strike shortly after one another in a similar place.

    In this case, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake was followed by a larger 7.5-magnitude quake just 38 seconds later.

    The USGS says this suggests "a complex, rupture-interaction process" - effectively where one earthquake helps to trigger another one nearby.

    This is different to the typical sequence of earthquakes, where a larger earthquake is followed by much smaller aftershocks.

    Having two large earthquakes so close together in time is particularly unusual, but doublets aren’t unprecedented in this part of the world.

    Northern Venezuela was also hit by a doublet in September 2025, according to the USGS.

    The quakes were much weaker, at 6.2 and 6.3-magnitude, but still caused at least one death and more than 100 injuries, it says.

    The Turkey-Syria earthquakes of February 2023, which killed more than 55,000 people, were also a doublet sequence.

    Two maps showing powerful earthquakes striking northern Venezuela less than a minute apart on 24 June. The first, magnitude 7.2 at 18:04 local time, produced strong to severe shaking concentrated inland near the coast, while the second, slightly larger magnitude 7.5 at 18:05, spread more intense shaking across a wider area particularly along the northern coast. The maps use a colour scale from light to severe to illustrate shaking intensity, highlighting heavily affected zones around La Guaira and Caracas, with broader regions experiencing moderate to strong tremors. The source is GDACS and the USGS
  2. BBC Verify

    Dramatic footage shows man descending devastated high-rise building

    Eyewitness shows extent of damage inside building

    By Tom Gould

    We have verified footage of a man filming while walking down the shattered stairway of a residential building in the coastal town of Caraballeda in Venezuela’s La Guaira state, seemingly recorded moments after the back-to-back earthquakes struck.

    The extent of the damage becomes increasingly severe as he descends. His video shows holes in the side of the building and corridors covered in rubble on the lower floors.

    We have confirmed the location where the video was filmed using satellite imagery and the video’s recency by carrying out a reverse image search of screenshots, to establish when it was first shared online.

    These checks are important following incidents like this, as we have seen viral videos circulating on social media which are from older earthquakes in different countries.

  3. Venezuelans grappling with the aftermath of the earthquakes

    It's just past 08:00 in Venezuela and more pictures are emerging showing the aftermath of yesterday's back-to-back earthquakes as the sun rises.

    Some people can be seen leaving heavily damaged buildings carrying what appear to be personal belongings. Others are just sitting, observing the devastating scenes of rubble around them.

    A man in yellow shorts and red shirt carries personal belongings after climbing down the steps of a partially collapsed building surrounded by debrisAFP via Getty Images

    Catia La Mar, La Guaira state

    A woman in grey leggings and black t-shirt carries a young boy in a red shirt and blue trousers pajama, his head leaning on her shoulder. Behind him is a partially collapsed buildingAFP via Getty Images

    Caracas

    Wide short of a heavily damaged building. The entrance, a white gate off to the left, has a sign reading Res La Riviera on top. People are seen standing near the white entrance gate. Parts of the external walls have collapsed, showing the inside of flatsAFP via Getty Images

    Catia La Mar, La Guaira state

    A woman walks past a large pile of rubble in front of a house that is wonkyGetty Images

    Catia La Mar, La Guaira state

    A damaged apartment building where walls have fallen off and you can see into the rooms of peoples homesGetty Images

    Catia La Mar, La Guaira state

  4. Hard-hit La Guaira is an economically important part of Venezuela that's suffered before

    Daniel Gonzalez Cappa

    A view over a town with lots of small colourful houses on a hillside in front of a nice blue seaGetty Images

    La Guaira's Los Olivos neighborhood pictured in October 2025

    As we've been reporting, acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared the state of La Guaira a "disaster zone". Images and videos circulating on social media show collapsed buildings and devastation.

    La Guaira is one of Venezuela's smallest states, but an economically important one. Situated along the central northern coast, on the Caribbean Sea, just a few miles north of Caracas, it is a popular destination for visitors from the capital.

    The state is also home to one of the country's two main ports and to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela's main airport.

    The images coming out of the area today a reminder of another catastrophe that struck in December 1999, when torrential rains triggered a series of landslides. The death toll back then was in the thousands.

    La Guaira never fully recovered from those landslides. Even today, the enormous rocks that destroyed buildings are still there.

    Map showing the impact of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake near Caracas, Venezuela, on 24 June at 18:05 local time. Shading from light pink to dark red indicates increasing shaking intensity, with the most severe areas concentrated along the north central coast west of Caracas. Caracas, La Guaira and Maiquetía airport are marked along the Caribbean coastline, with Valencia shown inland to the southwest.

  5. Venezuelan Red Cross 'operational and responding' as UN urges 'massive collective effort'

    Rescue teams continue searching the rubble of a collapsed building at night.Getty Images

    Both the Red Cross and the United Nations have mobilised assistance for Venezuela following the earthquakes.

    The Red Cross says that "full human impact" of the Venezuelan earthquakes is not yet known, adding that its Venezuelan branch is "operational and responding".

    In a statement online, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says the "most urgent anticipated needs" are search and rescue as well emergency shelter and health care.

    The federation adds safe water and sanitation, alongside essential household items, are expected to be priorities in the days ahead.

    Tom Fletcher, the UN's under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, says in an update a rapid response team was being prepared to support its existing team in Venezuela.

    He adds that the disaster "risks deepening existing vulnerabilities", saying eight million people were already in need of humanitarian support in the country before the earthquakes, and urges a "massive collective effort" to support the government-led response.

  6. 30 aftershocks and an IMF reconstruction fund - more from Venezuela's acting president

    We can bring you some more information now from Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez.

    Speaking on the state-run television channel Venezolana de Televisión, Rodríguez says there have been 30 aftershocks following the two earthquakes.

    She confirms that 164 people have been registered as killed by the earthquakes, with 971 injured.

    Rodríguez adds that a fund of $200m (£152m) has been created from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to aid the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and homes.

    Delcy Rodriguez, pictured in AprilGetty Images

    Delcy Rodriguez, pictured in April

  7. BBC Verify

    Internet connectivity in Venezuela affected by the earthquakes

    By Adam Durbin and Rachel Flynn

    Internet connectivity in Venezuela has been significantly affected by the earthquakes, according to monitoring group NetBlocks.

    As of 08:00 BST (03:00 local time) connectivity had recovered to about 77% of normal capacity - having fallen to 59% shortly after the earthquakes hit.

    The 08:00 data is the latest available from NetBlocks.

    NetBlocks says the widespread issues “corresponds to power cuts and infrastructure damage, hindering rescue efforts and limiting visibility into events on the ground”.

    The disruption to the internet, combined with the relatively rural location of the earthquakes’ epicentre, is likely a significant factor contributing to the concentration of social media footage we are seeing from the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

    Separately, the UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela has called for the country’s telecommunications regulator to "fully unblock access to social media and all media outlets", adding that “access to information will be a matter of life and death”.

    Venezuela ranked 159 out of 180 countries and territories in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, which ranks 180 countries on the ability for journalists to work without interference or threats.

    Line chart titled “Network Connectivity – Venezuela: 2026-06-16 to 2026-06-25 UTC” showing internet connectivity levels mostly between about 85% and 100% over the period. The line remains relatively stable until 25 June, when there is a sharp drop to around 59%, highlighted with a red circle, followed by a partial recovery to about 77%. A NetBlocks logo appears in the lower left.NetBlocks

  8. What causes an earthquake?

    Mark Poynting
    Climate and science reporter

    The outer layer of the Earth is divided into different sections called tectonic plates - a bit like the Earth’s puzzle pieces.

    These plates move very slowly - perhaps only a few centimetres a year, which is roughly the same rate as your fingernails grow.

    Northern Venezuela sits on the boundary of the Caribbean and South American plates.

    As they move relative to one another, parts of the plates can get “stuck”, and stress builds up over a long period of time.

    Eventually, this stress becomes too much and the plates jolt or slip back into place.

    That releases the huge amounts of energy experienced as an earthquake.

    Map of northern Venezuela showing the locations of two earthquake epicentres along the Caribbean coast. Black dots mark major cities including Maracaibo (west), Barquisimeto (central-west), Valencia (central), Caracas, and La Guaira (near the coast). A highlighted label points to the epicentre area north of Valencia, close to the coast. The Caribbean Sea is shown to the north and Colombia to the southwest and a small inset world map shows the region’s location.

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  10. Analysis

    Earthquake response a big test for Venezuela and Trump

    Paul Adams
    Diplomatic correspondent

    A young woman in red trousers holds a toddler, an elderly woman in a red cap with her arms around both of them. In the foreground are people walking by, and a man riding a bike, a young girl with her arms around himReuters

    This is a big test for the government of Delcy Rodriguez and for the Trump administration.

    Since the US military intervention in January, when the former dictator Nicolas Maduro was abducted and flown to the US, his former deputy, Rodriguez has been running the country.

    But with the US controlling the country’s vital oil revenues, Venezuela has become a vassal state, heavily dependent on decisions taken far away in Washington.

    Members of the US Congress have complained about a lack of transparency over how Venezuela’s oil revenues are managed and audited, as well as the lack of moves towards a democratic transition.

    In January, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said Venezuela said the Maduro regime had been characterised by "corruption and graft".

    It’s not clear what, if anything, has changed since then. Suffice to say that Venezuela is unlikely to be well equipped to deal with a disaster on this scale.

  11. Death toll rises to 164, says Venezuela's interim president
    Breaking

    The number of deaths from the earthquakes that struck Venezuela last night now stands at 164, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez has said, according to Reuters and AFP.

  12. Fear of aftershocks in Los Palos Grandes

    Nicole Kolster
    Reporting from Caracas for BBC News Mundo

    Three people sat down on the street, two with their heads in their hands

    “How do you go back to living like this? This is like something out of a movie - I’ve never seen anything like it in my life… when I got here [to Los Palos Grandes] I was in shock,” says a woman sitting on the steps of a square who isn’t even trying to fall asleep.

    It’s past 05:00 in the morning. In Caracas, in Los Palos Grandes—a residential area where buildings have collapsed—hundreds are sleeping (or trying to) in squares, on the streets, or in vehicles parked along the avenues.

    People can be seen lying on the ground with sheets they managed to bring out from their homes - there is a lot of fear of aftershocks.

    Other families are holding their pets in their arms.

    Many here are watching over the rescue efforts and waiting for news about their loved ones who may have been trapped under the rubble. Some cars are blocked in.

    This is one of the most affected areas of Caracas.

    The mayor of the Chacao municipality, Gustavo Duque, reports at least 11 fatalities as of the time of writing.

    People lying on the floor and sitting in plastic chairs sheltering under cover

  13. Extent of damage unclear 12 hours after earthquakes

    People inspect rubble of the aftermath of an earthquake, with recovery teams wearing headtorches.Reuters

    It has now been around 12 hours since a pair of earthquakes struck Venezuela shortly after 18:00 local time on Wednesday (23:00 BST), affecting numerous areas including the capital city of Caracas.

    'A significant loss to life'

    At least 32 people have died and some 700 have been injured after the two quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez said.

    The executive director of the UN Office for Project Services Jorge Moreira da Silva says reports indicate "a significant loss to life, widespread injuries, and severe damage to homes and vital infrastructure" in Caracas and elsewhere.

    La Guaira deemed a 'disaster zone'

    Rodríguez said in her update early on Thursday that the total number of casualties did not include any figures from the state of La Guaira - which she said was most affected and called a "disaster zone".

    Images from La Guaira show rubble from buildings that have fallen, including a collapsed hotel.

    Damages across several states

    Our BBC reporter Vanessa Silva says damage has been reported in different Venezuelan states, while concerns have been raised about getting information given the state of Venezuela's power network.

  14. Venezuelans looking for information struggle with faulty electric network

    Our colleague Jorge Perez from BBC News Mundo was texting a friend in Caracas when he heard the first reports of the earthquakes.

    He says that while earthquakes are a regular occurrence in Venezuela due to it being a seismic area, Wednesday's quakes are still "quite shocking".

    Perez has been able to chat with some of his friends in the Venezuelan capital who "cannot sleep" out of fear and nerves.

    One of the main issues, Perez adds, has been the struggle to get information: "The country has a very serious crisis with the electric network so it's very common to have power outages almost every day."

    He says the situation is also stressful for the millions of Venezuelans living abroad who are unable to get in touch with their loved ones.

    Rescuers on the debris of a building in Caracas following Wednesday's earthquakesGetty Images

    Rescuers continuing to search the rubble in Caracas following Wednesday's earthquakes

  15. Depth is a crucial factor when it comes to the impact of earthquakes

    Esme Stallard
    Senior climate and science reporter

    Emergency services searching in Caracas following the earthquakesEPA

    Venezuela has experienced two earthquakes in quick succession and both of them were very shallow, less than 30km below ground.

    One of the crucial factors that determines the impact of an earthquake is how far below the Earth's surface it occurred.

    An earthquake occurs when two parts of the Earth suddenly move past each other which releases a lot of energy. When this energy reaches the surface it causes the ground to shake.

    The closer it is to the surface the more shaking and potential damage.

    Graphic titled “Why shallow earthquakes can be more deadly” comparing deep and shallow earthquakes. On the left, a deep earthquake is shown beneath the surface, with red shockwave circles spreading upward and losing energy before reaching a block of land with a house and trees, resulting in less intense shaking. On the right, a shallower earthquake occurs closer to the surface, with shockwaves reaching the ground with more energy beneath a similar block, causing stronger shaking.

  16. Support and solidarity extended by world leaders

    French President Emmanuel MacronEPA

    World leaders have expressed their support for Venezuela following Wednesday's earthquakes:

    • Emmanuel Macron, France's president, says in a post on X that he extends solidarity to the victims, their loved ones, and those mobilised on the ground
    • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says all of his support, "and that of Spain", is with those in Venezuela, adding that his and the country's thoughts are with the victims and their families
    • China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a news briefing that the country would do what it could to help Venezuela, adding there had been no reports so far of Chinese casualties
    • President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele says 300 rescuers and paramedics alongside 50 tons of equipment, medicines and essential supplies are ready to be sent to Caracas from the country
    • Earlier, US President Donald Trump said he had "instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly", while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the country was "immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian assistance" to Venezuela

  17. 'There's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear,' says Caracas resident

    Caracas-based journalist Luis Hernandez was at home when the two quakes hit and was forced to evacuate with his dog.

    His building was left with structural damage after the "terribly horrifying" shaking - but he tells BBC Newsday that assessing the damage, both in his home and around the country, will be difficult.

    "Due to the economic crisis in the country it is very difficult for us to assess the damage in the country," Hernandez says. Power outages and internet failures are further complicating attempts to understand the scale of the damage.

    "But we are getting a sense that around the country everyone is now not in their apartments, or their buildings, but on the lower floors trying to escape the possibility of the buildings falling down," he says.

    "There's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear, because I don't think as a Venezuelan we were prepared for this."

    People resting outside in CaracasReuters

    People resting outside in Caracas following the earthquakes

  18. Earthquake last night was strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900, says USGS

    A person looks on at the site of a collapsed building, with a shuttered unit warped and covered in rubble.Reuters

    Rubble near the site of a collapsed building in Caracas after the earthquakes last night

    One of the earthquakes that struck Venezuela last night was the strongest to occur in the country since 1900, according to data from the US Geological Survey (USGS).

    The first earthquake that struck the country last night was registered with a magnitude of 7.2 by the USGS, with a second quake of 7.5 magnitude striking less than a minute later.

    The government agency's catalogue of earthquakes states that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck near the coast of Venezuela on 29 October 1900, known as the San Narciso earthquake.

    Two maps showing powerful earthquakes striking northern Venezuela less than a minute apart on 24 June. The first, magnitude 7.2 at 18:04 local time, produced strong to severe shaking concentrated inland near the coast, while the second, slightly larger magnitude 7.5 at 18:05, spread more intense shaking across a wider area particularly along the northern coast. The maps use a colour scale from light to severe to illustrate shaking intensity, highlighting heavily affected zones around La Guaira and Caracas, with broader regions experiencing moderate to strong tremors. The source is GDACS and the USGS

  19. Residents set up tents on streets away from damaged buildings

    Rescue and recovery operations continue in Caracas and other areas affected by the two back-to-back earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday.

    Some are choosing to set up tents on the streets, as fears remain of potential aftershocks or damaged buildings collapsing.

    Caracas families set up tent on a football pitch following a series of earthquakes struck the countryGetty Images
    In the foreground is a set of tents with children moving things inside the smallest one. The scene appears to be set in a park in Caracas, with several other people with backpacks standing and walking around the backgroundGetty Images

  20. Most affected is La Guaira state, north of Caracas, acting president says

    Two people walk past a huge fire amid collapsed buildingReuters

    A burning building in La Guaira, Venezuela

    We can bring you a little more from Delcy Rodríguez's update from earlier this morning.

    The acting president says the most affected state is La Guaira, north of Caracas, where "dozens" of buildings have collapsed. She calls it a "disaster zone" and a "true tragedy".

    Speaking of the reports of 32 dead, the interim president says this is "not including any figures that may come in from the state of La Guaira".