Eyewitness video shot inside a stationary plane on Wednesday (June 24) shows passengers panicking as the cabin shook violently during a tremor as two back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela.

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

Footage showed passengers assembling on the tarmac after disembarking next to an airport building with a damaged facade. Passengers were also seen walking through a darkened terminal hall as debris lay strewn on the ground.

Reuters confirmed the location using airport layout, businesses and signage inside the airport which matched archive and satellite images. The location and date of the video were also verified by original file metadata.

Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said late on Thursday (June 25) that around 235 dead had been received by medical centres. He did not give a total number of casualties.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Eyewitness video showing passengers panicking aboard a plane at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia as powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. Video credit: Dr. Victor Manrique

VIDEO SHOWS: VIDEO SHOT FROM INSIDE PLANE AS IT SHAKES DURING EARTHQUAKES / PASSENGERS GATHERING ON TARMAC / PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH AIRPORT STREWN WITH DEBRIS

VERIFICATION:

- Airport layout, businesses and signage inside the airport matched archive and satellite images

- Location and date also verified by original file metadata

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: MAIQUETIA, VENEZUELA (JUNE 24, 2026) (DR. VICTOR MANRIQUE - No resales / No archive / Must on-screen courtesy Dr. Victor Manrique) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT)

1. PASSENGERS REACTING AS PLANE SHAKES, AS SEEN FROM INSIDE CABIN / AIRPORT STAFF RUNNING ON TARMAC, AS SEEN THROUGH PLANE WINDOW

2. PASSENGERS ASSEMBLING ON TARMAC NEAR PLANE

3. VEHICLES MOVING / PASSENGERS ASSEMBLING ON TARMAC / DAMAGED FACADE OF BUILDING

4. DAMAGED FACADE OF BUILDING / PASSENGERS ASSEMBLING ON TARMAC

5. PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH TERMINAL / DEBRIS HANGING FROM DAMAGED CEILING / DEBRIS STREWN ON FLOOR

6. DEBRIS ON FLOOR INSIDE AIRPORT / PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH