Venezuela was hit by a pair of strong earthquakes,magnitude 7.5 and 7.2—within 39 seconds of each other, according to the US Geological Survey; the quakes were the largest in the country’s history and were felt across many parts of Venezuela. The epicenter was located west of the community of Morón, along the Caribbean coast, approximately 168 kilometers (104 miles) from Caracas, though the mainshock had a depth of 13 kilometers (8 miles).

Structural damage and public response

Videos from social media captured scenes of panic at Maiquetía airport, where passengers scrambled for cover as debris fell; In Altamira, an upscale district of Caracas housing many foreign embassies, at least three buildings collapsed shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The interior minister. Diosdado Cabello. Reported alarming damage to structures and urged people to remain outdoors due to the risk of aftershocks.

“A seismic event that everything suggests was considerably above 7 points has taken place,” Cabello said on state television, while “There are several complicated areas … very alarming areas from the visual point of view, with buildings and homes that have collapsed.”

Unclear casualty numbers and rescue efforts

While some people were reportedly trapped under the rubble, the number of casualties and deaths remained unclear in the immediate aftermath, while Outside one collapsed building, a person was seen crying and calling out for a relative feared to be inside. Cabello emphasized the danger of additional aftershocks that could affect already damaged structures.

The situation in Hualien, Taiwan, where a separate 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck earlier in the day, saw nine confirmed deaths and 821 injuries, according to the Central Weather Administration. The epicenter of that quake was 25 km south-southeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 15.5 km. The highest intensity of 6 was recorded in Hualien, with intensities over 5 in neighboring counties including Yilan and Miaoli. In Taipei and surrounding areas, intensities of just under 5 were reported.

Four of the nine deaths in Hualien were linked to falling rocks in Taroko National Park, including three hikers on the Dekalun Trail and one on the Xiaozhuilu Trail. Another fatality occurred near Provisional Highway No. 8, where a woman was struck by falling rocks while accompanying her husband on roadwork. A truck driver and another motorist were also killed by boulders on the Suhua Highway and in the Daqingshui Tunnel, respectively. A seventh victim was hit by falling rocks in a mining area.

Government and emergency response

The Hualien County Government announced that schools would be suspended the following day due to the quake. In Hualien City, several buildings were found tilting at severe angles, with one large structure at the intersection of Zhongshan and Chongqing roads reported to be in critical condition. Emergency responders had rescued all occupants of the building by late afternoon, though the last person removed was found without vital signs.