Powerful Earthquake Strikes Venezuela: Building Collapses Reported, Growing Risk for Children in Affected Areas

Venezuela is facing a major seismic emergency. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.2 foreshock was followed, just seconds later, by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, an “earthquake doublet”, with an epicenter in the municipality of Montalbán, Carabobo State, at a shallow depth of approximately 13 kilometers.

The tremor was felt strongly in Caracas, La Guaira, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, Yaracuy, and Falcón, and was also felt in Colombia and across several Caribbean islands. Authorities have confirmed partial building collapses in the Altamira and San Bernardino areas of Caracas, as well as in Turmero, Aragua State, in addition to roof damage at Maiquetía International Airport.

Sectoral Vice President for Politics, Citizen Security and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, delivered the first official briefing via Venezolana de Televisión, confirming the collapse of several buildings and ordering a precautionary shutdown of gas service to the affected structures, while urging the public to remain calm and keep children close.

Chacão Municipality Mayor Gustavo Duque confirmed that the earthquake has caused fatalities, though no official consolidated figure has yet been released. Rescue teams and Civil Protection personnel continue search and medical-response operations in the hardest-hit areas. A tsunami watch remains in effect for coastlines within 300 kilometers of the epicenter; maritime authorities in Colombia and Ecuador have ruled out tsunami risk for their respective coasts.

“We pray for every child and family facing fear and uncertainty today after this powerful earthquake," said Peter Gape, National Director of World Vision Venezuela and Colombia. "Our team is on the ground assessing how to support the communities hardest hit, and we ask for strength for the rescue teams and comfort for those who have lost a loved one. May the international community come together to stand with Venezuela in this moment of pain,” 

Regional Emergency Content and Communications Specialist Luis Colmenarez, 4 hours away from Caracas, adds: “Today is a holiday in Venezuela, so I went to the movies with my little sisters, who wanted to see Toy Story. Halfway through the film, everything went dark and everything started to shake. People began running amid screams and cries. Children were also screaming in fear. Some people stopped to pray; panic took over the theater, as the darkness made it impossible to see the exit. Some people stumbled and fell to the floor. All of this happened while we were trying to find an emergency exit. The shaking lasted between two and three minutes—it felt endless."

"I tried to stay calm and led my sisters to a safe place, all while we were in a state of shock. It was the first time we had ever experienced something like this—it felt like a movie."

"Currently, there are many collapsed buildings. Some media outlets are reporting deaths and injuries. Rescue efforts are ongoing. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with patients out in the streets. People in Caracas are also staying outside, because they are afraid to return to their homes due to multiple aftershocks. The government has just declared that there will be no classes or non-essential activities for the rest of the week. So far, there is no official report. The government has already declared a state of emergency.”

María Andreína Pernalete, Comms Manager in WV Venezuela, adds: “We are deeply shaken and frightened. When (the earthquake) it happened, I was with my 2-year-old baby, my mother, and my husband. I received an alert just a few seconds before everything started shaking, and we gathered under a column. There, we hugged each other and prayed, waiting for it all to pass. We saw how the walls were damaged, and it was truly shocking for us. We had to move to a nearby convent where we are staying now, because of the damage our building suffered—we can’t go back inside. The nuns are also taking in families at a school to give them shelter. I live in Caracas, in Sebucán, one of the areas most affected by the earthquake, along with Palmira, where there were landslides. We know there are people injured, but at this time we don’t know how many, or if there are any fatalities. There have been many aftershocks. This is going to be a very long night, because we are very shaken by what happened. We hope the number of affected people is minimal; we are praying for the families who are suffering.”

Right now:

• Structural damage and partial collapses have been confirmed in Caracas (Altamira/Chacao, San Bernardino) and in Turmero, Aragua State; power and gas outages persist in several areas.
• Local authorities report the first fatalities, though there is still no official, consolidated toll of casualties or affected homes.
• Hundreds of families remain outside their homes, fearful of aftershocks, several of which have already been recorded.
• A tsunami watch remains active for coastlines near the epicenter; risk has been ruled out for the Caribbean coasts of Colombia and Ecuador.

In response, World Vision has activated its emergency team on the ground to assess the impact in areas where we have an established presence through our projects: the situation of children, safety and protection, access to safe housing and clean water, and psychosocial support.

Longer-term impact:

• Risk of displacement for families whose homes have become uninhabitable or unsafe.
• Possible disease outbreaks resulting from deteriorating water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Disruption to children’s education due to damage to schools and community facilities
• Increased psychosocial vulnerability among children and adolescents amid the fear and uncertainty left by the earthquake and its aftershocks.
• Possible strain on a health system that was already facing limitations.

ENDS

For more information, case studies, assets, and interviews, please contact  

Sam Bishop: sam.bishop@worldvision.org.uk  

+44 7942 101023