Videos: Airport sways, buildings collapse; apocalyptic scenes in Venezuela hit by twin quakes,

It felt like a scene straight out of an apocalypse movie as two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring around 700, while leaving large parts of Caracas in chaos, with collapsing buildings, swaying structures and panicked residents captured in widely circulated videos.

Security camera footage from La Pastora showed the exact moment the tremor began, with violent shaking rippling through streets within seconds. Other clips from the capital showed multi-storey buildings crumbling, facades peeling away, and structures swaying heavily before giving way.

Social media platforms were flooded with videos from across Venezuela, showing residents rushing out into the streets as buildings shook violently. One widely shared clip from inside an airport showed the entire terminal swaying as passengers and staff ran for cover. Lights flickered, and air vents rattled as people clutched onto each other while trying to move to safety.

Additional footage from Caracas showed cracked roads, violently shaking vehicles and residents spilling out of homes in panic. Several videos also captured animals running frantically as the ground trembled. Emergency visuals showed rescue teams working through unstable debris after dark, searching for survivors trapped under collapsed structures.

The earthquake – a magnitude 7.2 quake followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey – struck about 160 km west of Caracas. Authorities warned that casualty estimates could rise significantly, with predictive models suggesting the death toll could reach into the thousands.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said buildings had collapsed across multiple areas, with rescue operations underway through the night.

“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” she said on state television. She added that initial casualty figures did not include the worst-hit La Guaira state, near Caracas.

Local officials confirmed fatalities in several districts, including Baruta and Chacao, where multiple buildings collapsed. Authorities also reported extensive structural damage across residential neighbourhoods, with emergency crews deployed to search for survivors.

Residents described scenes of chaos as the quakes struck during a public holiday. Many said they rushed into the streets as buildings shook and alarms went off. “There was a very loud crash. Things fell in the house. I’ve never experienced anything like it,” said one resident in eastern Caracas.

Another witness said, “As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming. Everyone was running down the stairs.”

A tsunami warning was briefly issued but later withdrawn after authorities said the threat had passed.

US President Donald Trump said on social media that the United States was ready to assist Venezuela in the aftermath of the disaster. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed that Washington was preparing to deploy search-and-rescue teams, medical assistance and humanitarian aid.

Leaders from several countries, including Brazil, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, expressed solidarity with Venezuela as international assistance began to mobilise.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said rescue operations were being carried out “with everything we have available” as emergency teams worked through collapsed structures and damaged neighbourhoods.

Hospitals in Caracas were placed on high alert, with staff reinforcing night shifts to handle the influx of injured patients. Authorities also suspended classes across the country as damage assessments continued.

Venezuela lies on a major seismic fault line where the Caribbean and South American plates meet, making it prone to powerful earthquakes. The country’s capital was last hit by a deadly major quake in 1967.

As rescue efforts continue, officials warned that the full scale of destruction is still being assessed, with communication lines and infrastructure severely disrupted across several regions.

- Ends