Absolute panic swept through Venezuela as two powerful earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday evening (June 24), sending residents fleeing for their lives as buildings crumbled behind them like cardboard boxes. The back-to-back tremors, measuring 7.1 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck near the country’s coastline, triggering widespread building collapses and hundreds of injuries. Authorities confirm that at least 164 people have been killed, with nearly 1,000 more injured following the two powerful quakes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that casualties could rise dramatically, estimating the final death toll could range from 10,000 to as many as 100,000.
Panic as buildings collapse in seconds during Venezuela earthquakes
The chaos that unfolded during the seismic event was captured in videos circulating across social media, showing building facades crumbling onto busy streets while terrified residents run for safety as thick clouds of dust and debris engulf entire neighborhoods. Particularly shocking is one video showing a multi-story building collapsing within seconds.
‼️Así se vivió el derrumbe de edificaciones en El Junquito. 🚨 No se puede creer. #venezuela🇻🇪 #parati #soso #terremoto #eljunquito pic.twitter.com/Rm9wxbuAwF
— Cristian Crespo F. 🇨🇺 (@cristiancrespoj) June 25, 2026
People can be heard screaming and shouting to one another as they desperately try to distance themselves from the collapse zone. Car alarms blare continuously as bricks and chunks of concrete continue to rain down onto the streets. In another video, the upper floors of a building visibly give way and crash down onto the road below, while in a separate area, shattering glass can be heard as entire city blocks shudder violently.
Venezuela 🇻🇪 earthquake. Views from inside the mall. ☹️ pic.twitter.com/VhXqbi1flp
— The Current Feed (@thecurrentfeed) June 25, 2026
When did the earthquakes strike Venezuela?
The first earthquake struck at 6:04 PM local time, approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Montalbán and 167 kilometers west of Caracas, at a focal depth of around 13 kilometers. Just one minute later, an even more powerful second tremor measuring 7.5 in magnitude followed, with its epicenter near the city of Morón and a focal depth of approximately 10 kilometers.
The earthquakes struck at a time when many residents were at home due to the national holiday marking the Battle of Carabobo, which commemorates the landmark 1821 victory that contributed to the country’s independence from Spain.
Although Venezuela sits near several geological fault lines, earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively rare for the country compared to other parts of Latin America, such as Mexico and Chile, which lie directly along the highly active seismic arc known as the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
Terror at Caracas airport: Children’s screams and cries fill the terminal
Scenes of chaos also unfolded at Simón Bolívar International Airport. Footage from inside the terminal captures passengers running in panic as sections of the ceiling collapse around them. Children can be heard crying and screaming in terror, while women desperately clutch young children and try to guide their families to safety.
Lights flicker on and off due to damage to the electrical grid, as thick clouds of dust fill the airport’s halls and corridors.
🔴 7.1 büyüklüğünde meydana gelen depremin ardından #Venezuela Uluslararası Havalimanında hasar meydana geldi. pic.twitter.com/nvxQ4kYlan
— TV100 (@tv100) June 25, 2026
Race against time: Rescuers search for survivors beneath the rubble
Immediately following the second earthquake, dozens of rescue teams launched search and rescue operations across the affected areas. In videos spreading rapidly around the world, rescuers and local residents work side by side to pull survivors from the wreckage of collapsed buildings. Many residents are joining efforts to clear debris by hand, while others stand in stunned silence before what remains of their homes.
La Guaira among the hardest-hit areas
The coastal city of La Guaira appears to have been among the most severely affected. Videos filmed shortly before sunset show buildings almost entirely destroyed, with plumes of smoke rising from multiple points across the city.
In one clip, a car can be seen nearly buried beneath a mountain of rubble, as residents attempt to free it using straps and other vehicles.
Other footage captures homes that have completely collapsed or sustained severe structural damage, with residents standing in speechless shock before the full scale of the devastation.
