Hundreds of people in Venezuela were trapped under rubble, and many more remained unaccounted for on Thursday (June 25) after two powerful earthquakes devastated areas in and around the capital Caracas, killing hundreds, damaging buildings and leaving thousands homeless.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas on Wednesday (June 24) evening, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, the strongest since ‌1900, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Live footage on Venezuelan Government TV showed the rescue team continuing the search into Friday (June 25) after the earthquakes turned buildings into rubble.

A Swiss rescue team arrived in Aragua overnight to support ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.

Switzerland had said it would deploy 80 specialists, eight search dogs and 18 tonnes of equipment to Venezuela to assist with relief operations.

Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said late on Thursday that around 235 dead had been received by medical centres.

The disaster hit a country already weakened by years of economic turmoil, leaving much of its infrastructure fragile and complicating rescue efforts as aftershocks rattled the capital and surrounding coastal areas.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Search continues overnight for hundreds trapped in rubble after major Venezuela earthquakes

VIDEO SHOWS: EMERGENCY RESCUE TEAM SEARCHING THROUGH RUBBLE FOR SURVIVOR / RESCUE TEAM MOVING SURVIVOR ONTO AMBULANCE / RESCUE PERSONNEL UNLOADING RELIEF SUPPLIES FROM PLANE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA (JUNE 26, 2026) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. EMERGENCY RESCUE TEAM SEARCHING THROUGH RUBBLE FOR SURVIVOR

2. MEDICAL TEAM TREATING SURVIVOR

3. RESCUE TEAM MOVING SURVIVOR ON A STRETCHER

4. VARIOUS OF RESCUE TEAM MOVING SURVIVOR ONTO AN AMBULANCE

ARAGUA, VENEZUELA (JUNE 26, 2026) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV – Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

5. SWISS RESCUE PERSONNEL UNLOADING RELIEF SUPPLIES FROM PLANE

6. VARIOUS OF SWISS RESCUE PERSONNEL ON TARMAC