Two massive, consecutive earthquakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela on Wednesday (June 24), causing widespread destruction across Caracas.

As buildings collapsed, trapping residents, the USGS warned of heavy casualties.

Terrified citizens rushed to evacuate. "I felt it start to shake... and it just kept shaking," recalled one resident, wondering how to escape. For others, the destruction of their homes was absolute. "When we arrived, we found it completely destroyed," another survivor shared, noting that Caracas is in a seismic zone, "although it hasn't happened in a while".

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency as rescue workers continued to search the rubble for survivors.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JUNE 24, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOT)

1. RESCUE TEAM CARRYING VICTIM INTO AMBULANCE

2. VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDING

3. RESIDENTS TAKING PICTURES OF DAMAGED BUILDING

4. RESIDENT CLEARING CARRYING OBJECTS OUT OF AFFECTED BUILDING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AFFECTED RESIDENT, AVILIO GONZALEZ, SAYING:

"Fortunately, my family—my wife, my granddaughter, and I—were out of the apartment building. When we got back, we saw it was completely destroyed. Luckily, the neighbors managed to save their lives too. What can I say? How many families are going to end up like this, with destroyed buildings in Caracas? Even though it hadn't happened in a while, Caracas is located in a seismic zone."

6. RESIDENT IN WHEELCHAIR BEING EVACUATED

7. AFFECTED RESIDENT, ANGELA RIVERO, SITTING IN THE STREET

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AFFECTED RESIDENT, ANGELA RIVERO, SAYING:

"I was sitting in the kitchen when I felt it start to shake. I told her, 'It's shaking!' and she replied, 'Yes, yes, it's shaking.' The tremors were really strong. I just stood there saying, 'Dear God, here I am.' It just kept shaking, and then I thought, 'How am I going to get down?'"

9. BUILDING DEBRIS

10. RESIDENTS CARRYING DEBRIS TO THE STREET

11. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS STANDING IN THE STREET