Venezuela: 164 dead in devastating, back-to-back earthquakes

The acting president has reported at least 164 deaths in Venezuela after two strong earthquakes rattled the capital and surrounding regions.

What you need to know

Two major quakes struck central Venezuela seconds apart, one with a magnitude 7.2 and the other with a magnitude 7.5

At least 164 are dead, with 971 injuries, acting President Rodriguez has said

Venezuela's president has declared a state of emergency

Extensive damage reported in the capital of Caracas and the nearby state of La Guaira

Follow along for the latest news out of Venezuela on Wednesday and Thursday:

Major petrochemical plant near epicenters restarting, firefighters say

The Moron Petrochemical Complex, Venezuela's second-largest operational facility of its kind, was restarting on Thursday after a preventive shutdown in response to Wednesday's quakes.

The chief of firefighters in the area said that work was restarting at the facility, which sustained infrastructure damages during the quake.

Workers had been told not to come while an initial assessment on damages was conducted, Reuters reported citing sources from the center. It reported that they had detected a leak from a storage tank on Wednesday.

Moron is situated not far east of the quakes' epicenters, just west of the port city of Puerto Cabello.

Rubio pledges 'big, fast, effective' US response

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US will provide a "whole-of-government" response to the twin quakes, noting that access questions could be challenging with the main international airport in La Guaira damaged.

"The Department of War is going to have to play a big logistical role here because they have the ability to land in challenging places right now," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Bahrain, using the new name for what until recently was known as the Department of Defense.

"So we have a whole-of-governemnt response," Rubio said. "It'll be big, it'll be fast, and it'll be effective."

Rubio said that any potential impacts on US operations in Venezuela following the capture and arrest of President Nicolas Maduro in January was not foremost in his mind.

"Right now we're worried that there are people trapped in the rubble. We want to help get them out," he said, noting how some of those people could have relatives based in the US.

Germany offers aid after deadly Venezuela quakes

Germany has offered support to Venezuela after two major earthquakes left over a hundred dead.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin stood ready to assist and expressed sympathy for victims and those who lost their homes.

"The news of the terrible earthquake in Venezuela has left us deeply saddened. Germany stands with Venezuela and will provide assistance," Merz said.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and those who have lost everything they own. I wish the injured strength and a speedy recovery."

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also pledged swift help.

"Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones, those injured and those working tirelessly to rescue survivors,” Wadephul said. “Germany stands ready to support the people of Venezuela."

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had earlier offered up to six A400M transport aircraft.

Pistorius said the planes could be used to airlift personnel and supplies as well as support transport within the country.

Less news from epicenter area, early reports focus on Caracas and vicinity

Early reports out of Venezuela have focused to a large extent on the capital Caracas and the state of La Guaira immediately to its north that's home to the damaged international airport.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared La Guaira a disaster zone and among the worst-hit areas.

However, the two magnitude 7-plus quakes on Wednesday struck around 160 kilometers (or roughly 100 miles) west of the capital.

Three major population centers in particular stand out as being much closer to the heart of the quakes than the capital and the coast to its north.

San Felipe, the capital of the state of Yaracuy in Central-Western Venezuela, is situated inland, roughly 20 kilometers southwest of the two main epicenters. It's home to more than 200,000 people.

The major northern port of Puerto Cabello in Carabobo State was in the region of 60 kilometers east of the epicenters. It's home to just under 200,000 people and is in a more exposed coastal location than the high-altitude San Felipe.

To the south of Puerto Cabello lies Venezuela's third-largest city, Valencia. The state capital of Carabobo, it has a population of 1.6 million, and is situated southeast of the two main quakes.

Macron: France deploying team of 85 rescue specialists

French President Emmanuel Macron says he spoke with acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday.

"I expressed France's solidarity with the Venezuelan people and said our thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones," Macron wrote online.

Macron said that France was ready, along with its European partners, to provide assistance to Venezuelan people and authorities.

"A team of 85 French rescuers specialized in search and rescue operations will be deployed immediately," he said.

Spain offers rescue assistance from military's emergency response unit

Spain's Defense Ministry said that 54 army rescuers were ready to deploy and assist in dealing with the aftermath of the quakes.

The contingent from the army's emergencies unit "combines the use of specially trained search dogs and specific devices like rescue cameras or geophones," the ministry wrote online.

Despite sometimes difficult ties in recent years amid the international ostracism of Venezuela's governments under former Presidents Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, Spain has close historical and cultural ties to Venezuela.

It is home to the world's largest population of Venezuelan emigres besides the US.

Interim President Rodriguez says at least 164 dead following quakes

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez issued a drastically increased death toll early on Thursday, saying that at least 164 people had died following the magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 quakes and other seismic activity.

At least 971 people were injured, Rodriguez said.

Rescuers had been working through the night in the capital Caracas and other parts of the country.

The main pair of quakes' epicenters were located fairly far to the west of Caracas, near the city of San Felipe. But some of the smaller aftershocks were much closer to the major population center.

How countries live with earthquakes and build resilience

Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela, even though it sits near multiple fault lines along the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Other countries on the Pacific coast, including Mexico, Chile and the western edge of the United States, are positioned along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, responsible for about 90% of the world's earthquakes.

However, several countries that once faced devastating losses have proven that living with earthquakes doesn't have to mean living in fear. Their experiences show that resilience isn't just about surviving the next earthquake but about building systems that protect lives before the ground begins to shake.

EU, Germany offer Venezuela help after devastating earthquake

Both Germany and the European Union extended on Thursday support to Venezuela in dealing with the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes.

EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said the bloc was following the situation "with our field staff and partners there."

"EU-funded partners are already providing help on the ground, Copernicus is activated & we stand ready to step up assistance," Lahbib said, in reference to the bloc's satellite surveillance system.

Berlin meanwhile offered six military transport planes to aid the Latin American nation in search and rescue missions.

"The German armed forces stands ready and can make up to six A400M transport aircraft available at short notice as soon as support is requested from us," said Boris Pistorius in a statement.

China offers help to Venezuela in wake of deadly earthquakes

China on Thursday said Beijing was ready to send any help Venezuela needs after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 32 people and injured hundreds.

"China is willing to provide what help it can in an appropriate manner according to the needs of the Venezuelan side," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

He added that currently there were no reports of casualties among Chinese citizens.

Prime Ministers India and Pakistan express condolences

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan both expressed solidarity with Venezuela on Thursday after the South American country was struck by deadly twin earthquakes.

Modi extended India's condolences to the "families who have lost their loved ones" and sent prayers for the injured.

He said, "India stands ready to extend all possible assistance."

Meanwhile, Sharif said he was "deeply saddened by the devastation and loss of life" and expressed solidarity on behalf of the people of Pakistan with all those affected.

Rubio says US deploying immediate assistance

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday extended the United States' "deepest condolences" to the people of Venezuela in a post on X and said that immediate assistance was being dispatched following the deadly twin quakes.

"Our hearts are with all those who have lost loved ones, those injured, and the courageous rescue workers working tirelessly in the aftermath," Rubio wrote.

He said at the behest of US President Donald Trump "the State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela."

At least 32 deaths, 700 injured in earthquakes, Rodriguez says

The back-to-back earthquakes which have rocked Venezuela on Wednesday have killed at least 32 people, interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said.

Over 700 others were injured, she added.

"Dozens of buildings have collapsed and we are engaged in the arduous task of rescuing the lives that God allows us to save. The state of La Guaira is facing a true tragedy and has become a disaster zone," she said.

Rodriguez said she did not yet have data on La Guaira, located near the capital.

The powerful 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.

Latin American countries offer help to Venezuela

Latin American countries stepped up to offer help to Venezuela following the two major quakes that struck the nation on Wednesday.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele posted on X that "300 rescuers and paramedics, along with 50 tons of equipment, medicines, and essential supplies, are ready to depart for Caracas."

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said he has spoken to Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez to offer their "deepest solidarity."

Abinader said "specialized teams for search, rescue, and emergency care from our Armed Forces will depart for Venezuela" early on Thursday.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also posted on X saying he has instructed the Brazilian Embassy in Caracas to assess the situation in Venezuela and help.

Several other countries also expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela.