Twin earthquakes struck northwestern and central Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 164 people and leaving an estimated 14,000 missing. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors hit just 39 seconds apart in the state of Yaracuy, bringing down dozens of high-rise apartment buildings across Caracas and La Guaira.
International rescue coalitions are now mobilizing to reach the impact zones. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is making immediate preparations to deploy specialized delegations to the region. Emergency responders from Israeli aid organizations, including ZAKA and IsraAid, are organizing teams to assist local authorities in extracting survivors from the rubble. Currently, officials report no casualties among the local Jewish community or Israeli citizens.
Interim President Delcy RodrÃguez formally declared a state of emergency as local crews struggle to manage the widespread destruction. The 7.5-magnitude mainshock is the most powerful earthquake recorded in the country since October 1900.
A broad global coalition is sending personnel and resources to assist the interim government. The United Nations, along with agencies from Switzerland, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, are deploying rescue workers, medical supplies, and search dogs. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged a whole-government military logistics operation to support the recovery efforts.
Transport into the affected regions remains severely restricted. Authorities closed Simón BolÃvar International Airport indefinitely after the facility sustained structural damage, suspending all commercial flights.