Caracas Outskirts Rattled by Two Earthquakes
The twin seismic shocks that struck on Saturday evening stamped a path of devastation across Caracas and its suburbs, leaving a death count of at least 160, per the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez. The city’s seismic intensity was measured at 7.3 on the Richter scale.
In El Junquito, a densely populated neighbourhood on the western outskirts of Caracas, an eyewitness posted a video to social media showing a mid‑rise building crumble in seconds, sending debris into the streets as residents scrambled for safety. The footage shows dust, flames and frantic calls, capturing the hour‑long chaos.
“We’re inside that block, and we can’t get through. The building walls are falling on us,” an un‑named local whispered repeatedly as social‑media images circulated.
Rescue teams mobilised from La Zamora and San Juan to conduct search and rescue, but fuel shortages and damaged roads have hampered operations. The message from the government urged the public to stay safe, remain inside building if structural integrities are uncertain, and head to designated checkpoint zones.
According to data from the Venezuelan Geological Institute, the two earthquakes produced up to 39 moments of intense shaking, with durations ranging from 5 to 8 seconds per tremor. A safety assessment warns that many of Caracas’s older buildings remain un‑reinforced and prone to collapse.
What’s next for Caracas? The city’s mayor announced an emergency operation for the next 48 hours, prioritising flood control, power restoration and de‑contamination of streets.
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