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- Two powerful earthquakes struck off Venezuela's coast, causing widespread damage, Wednesday.
- The 7.2 and 7.5 quakes led to building collapses and airport closure.
- Officials urged calm as rescue efforts continued; 32 people were hospitalized in Falcon state.
CARACAS, Venezuela — Back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities and areas spread as far as Brazil's Amazon about 1,050 miles away.
In a brief address to the nation late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the earthquakes caused damages in several states, but she did not give any figures of homes and buildings damaged, injuries or fatalities.
The earthquakes damaged the country's main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, severely enough to lead to its closure, she said, adding that classes are being canceled for several days.
"We urge our population to remain calm," Rodríguez said. "We urge unity."
Rodríguez also asked all health care professionals in the country to report to hospitals to assist anyone who was injured.
In the state of Falcon, Gov. Victor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalized, and more than four hours after the earthquake, there were still 15 people trapped.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2, and its epicenter was west of the community of Morón, located along the country's Caribbean coast, about 104 miles west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometers.
The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers and its epicenter was 10 miles southwest of Morón.
The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 p.m. People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.
'We all had to leave our houses'
People remained on the streets for hours, even after sunset. Some sat on the ground hugging their pets as dust gathered around them. Collapsed buildings, toppled electric poles and debris blocked streets. Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone signal.
"It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together," Caracas resident Hector Ricci said.
The lack of cellphone signal in parts of Venezuela deepened the distress of many families, particularly those among the more than 7.7 million people who have left the country during its protracted crisis.
"May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time," opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said from exile on X.
Impact felt throughout Venezuela
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake could be felt in several states. The Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had "alarming situations" with collapsed homes and buildings, he said, suggesting people were injured in the earthquake and asking motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
"We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most," Cabello said on state television. "Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed."
He also urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.
"The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong," Caracas resident Roberto Gamas said. "We were walking, and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out."
Contributing: Clara Preve, Astrid Suarez, Mauricio Savarese and Anna-Catherine Brigada
