SAN FELIPE, Venezuela, June 25 (World Daily Times) — The U.S. Geological Survey said two major earthquakes struck Venezuela 39 seconds apart on Wednesday evening, triggering red-alert damage estimates, shaking Caracas and prompting the United States to prepare assistance.
The USGS said the quakes registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and were centered near San Felipe and Yumare. Its PAGER system warned that high casualties and extensive damage were likely and that the disaster could be widespread.
Venezuelan official Delcy Rodríguez said the quakes damaged or collapsed buildings in Caracas and that rescue crews were searching through debris. She declared a state of emergency and later said at least 32 people were killed and more than 700 were injured.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the earthquakes had left “a devastating number of deaths” and that the United States stood ready to help. He said he had instructed federal agencies to prepare to move quickly.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said U.S. officials were in contact with Venezuelan authorities and mobilizing assistance. The State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said it was closely watching the aftermath, and senior State Department official Jeremy Lewin said a disaster assistance team and task force had been set up to coordinate search-and-rescue support, medical supplies and humanitarian aid.
