"It was like a horror movie" - Residents describe scenes after deadly earthquakes in Venezuela

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring 700 others, as dozens of buildings collapsed in and around the capital Caracas.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 km west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS has said it is highly likely that the death toll will reach thousands, with a significant probability of exceeding 10,000.

Video footage showed emergency workers scrambling over the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital as night fell, while worried relatives called for help for loved ones believed to be trapped. 

"When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie," said Maria Alejandra, a resident from a nearby building.

"We had to climb over the rubble and everything. The building supervisor with the baby and all the neighbors coming down. But from that building, I only saw one family come out," she added.

also World June 26, 2026 Venezuela continues efforts to pull people trapped under rubble

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said the initial death toll did not include those from the worst-hit state of La Guaira, near Caracas and home to the city's airport, which has been closed.

"Dozens of buildings have collapsed and we are currently carrying out very intensive rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save," she said in an appearance on state television shortly before 1 a.m. local time on Thursday.

A website created to track missing people and posted on X by the country's opposition leaders, many of whom are abroad, listed more than 6,600 people listed as missing shortly after 2 a.m. local time.