Venezuela Hit by Back-to-Back Major Earthquakes as U.S. Signals Aid Readiness

Two earthquakes — a magnitude 7.2 followed by a magnitude 7.5 just 39 seconds later — struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700, according to Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez. President Donald Trump described the toll as a "devastating number of deaths" and said the United States stood ready to deliver assistance to what he called Venezuela's "new and great friends."

Seismic Data and Scale of Damage

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the initial magnitude 7.2 earthquake at 6:04 p.m. ET, with its epicenter approximately 15 miles east-northeast of San Felipe. The second and stronger magnitude 7.5 event followed roughly 14 miles southeast of Yumare. The USGS issued a rare red alert, stating that "high casualties and extensive damage are probable, and the disaster is likely widespread." Officials said the twin quakes ranked among the most powerful to strike Venezuela in more than a century. Roughly two dozen aftershocks followed. Damage was reported in the capital Caracas, where rescue crews searched through rubble of collapsed or compromised structures.

Washington Mobilizes, Contacts Venezuelan Authorities

Trump posted on Truth Social that he had instructed all U.S. government agencies to prepare to move quickly. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed on X that American officials were in direct contact with Venezuelan authorities and actively mobilizing assistance. The State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said it was closely monitoring developments and extended condolences to victims. The bureau also directed U.S. citizens in Venezuela to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and follow embassy updates. Trump's public framing — offering aid to Venezuela's "new and great friends" — reflected the shift in bilateral relations following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro and the subsequent release of all known American detainees held by the prior government.

Rodríguez Declares Emergency, Urges Calm

Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency on Wednesday and addressed Venezuelans in a televised broadcast, urging the population to remain calm and united. The casualty figures she announced Thursday — at least 32 dead and more than 700 injured — represented the first official count released by the government. Her statements marked an early phase of what the USGS characterized as a likely widespread disaster; full damage assessments across affected regions were still under way as of Thursday. The cross-border assistance pipeline, if activated, would represent one of the first significant operational engagements between Washington and Caracas under the post-Maduro administration.