Venezuela earthquake today latest: At least 32 killed in back-to-back 7.5 magnitude shocks with warning thousands more could die

The International Federation of the Red Cross is carrying out a search and rescue mission amid the earthquake in Venezuela.

“Although it has reported critical damage to its own National Headquarters, the Venezuelan Red Cross is accounting for the safety of its staff and volunteers, activating security protocols and sharing earthquake safety guidance with communities — even as many of its volunteers respond while facing this emergency in their own neighbourhoods,” it wrote in a statement on Thursday.

“While assessments continue, the most urgent anticipated needs are search and rescue, emergency shelter for families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and emergency health care, including trauma care and psychosocial support. Safe water and sanitation and essential household items are also expected to be priorities in the hours and days ahead.”

An earthquake engineering expert says the severe damage seen in parts of Venezuela may be linked to the age of many affected buildings.

Kenneth O’Dell, Principal of MHP Structural Engineers, told CNN that those buildings were likely built before the early 70s.

“The types of buildings that will exhibit the damage are the concrete structures of vulnerable buildings that were likely built to older versions of the building code that they used there in Venezuela,” he said.

Venezuela has suspended metro and train services and cancelled classes nationwide as authorities respond to the aftermath of the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes.

Acting president Delcy Rodriguez announced that public transport systems would remain out of operation until further notice, while schools will stay closed for the rest of the week.

The measures come as emergency teams assess structural damage across affected areas and rescue operations continue in neighbourhoods hit by building collapses. Venezuela’s main international airport has also been closed after suffering damage.

Venezuela has been rocked by more than 20 aftershocks since two powerful earthquakes struck the country less than a minute apart.

The aftershocks have added to fears among residents already shaken by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, with many choosing to remain outdoors rather than return to damaged buildings.

Authorities said the hardest-hit areas include the northern coastal states of La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcon, where emergency crews continue assessing damage and searching for survivors.

At least 32 have been confirmed dead and 700 injured in the massive earthquakes on Wednesday evening.

Activists and opposition figures are urging Venezuelan authorities to restore access to X, VPN services and blocked news outlets following the devastating earthquakes.

Exiled opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez said the restrictions are preventing Venezuelans abroad from checking on their families while those inside “don’t grasp the magnitude of what happened”.

Venezuelan activist Jorge Jraissati wrote that CONATEL, the telecoms regulator, “must lift the block on X”.

“Our people need to be informed.”

Another activist, Isabella Picon, called on officials to “unblock X, media outlets and VPNs in Venezuela immediately”.

At least 32 people have been killed and 700 injured, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said, revealing the first nationwide casualty figures from the twin earthquakes.

Rodriguez said international rescue teams were expected to arrive in Venezuela in the coming hours to support ongoing emergency operations.

She also thanked Donald Trump for offering assistance following the disaster.

The announcement came after Rodriguez declared a state of emergency in response to the powerful back-to-back earthquakes, which caused building collapses in Caracas and forced the closure of the country’s main international airport.

At least four deaths have been reported following the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela, marking the first confirmed casualties from the disaster.

According to Reuters, three people were killed in Caracas’ Baruta district after two buildings collapsed, while another person died in the neighbouring Chacao district, where four buildings were completely destroyed and 22 people were taken to hospital.

In the coastal state of Falcon, officials reported 22 injuries and said 15 adults remain missing.

Authorities have not yet released a nationwide death or injury toll as rescue teams continue searching affected areas and assessing the full extent of the damage.

Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, has spoken from the site of a collapsed building in Caracas as emergency teams continue responding to the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes.

Standing in the San Bernardino district, Maduro Guerra said authorities had launched an extensive response operation following the disaster.

“We saw the interim president declare exceptional measures today due to this tragedy that we are witnessing in our country,” Nicolas Maduro Guerra was quoted as saying by CNN.

The National Assembly member said officials had received reports of four building collapses in the capital, two in San Bernardino and one each in Pinto Salinas and El Paraiso, as rescue crews work to locate and extract survivors.

“This area has very old buildings from the 50s and 60s. We have also seen collapse buildings in eastern Caracas, in the municipalities of Chacao and Baruta. We don’t have an exact number at this time, but we are out in the streets and helping people,” he said.

Maduro Guerra added that the earthquake had also caused significant damage beyond the capital, describing the states of La Guaira and Falcon as having been “very affected” by the disaster.