Residents of El Paraiso, central Caracas kept faith that survivors would still be found after an entire building collapsed on Wednesday (June 24) in the area, when two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela.

The residential building of San Judas Tadeo was completely destroyed as a result of the earthquakes.

Preliminary reports indicated that seven residents were safe and 13 remained missing, local media said on Thursday (June 25).

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.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JUNE 26, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF DESTRUCTION FOLLOWING BUILDING COLLAPSE

2. RUBBLE, HEAVY MACHINERY

3. PILE OF RUBBLE

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JUNE 26, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SLEEPING, CAMPING IN THE STREET

5. VARIOUS OF COLLAPSED BUILDING OVER DESTROYED CAR

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LUIS GONZALEZ, LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING:

“The building collapsed as soon as the first tremor struck. In other words, it swayed, collapsed… crashed into the one next to it, the neighbouring building, and came crashing down in a matter of fractions of a second. It is presumed that the few people who were living there and happened to be present at the time are, as yet, presumed dead. We never lose hope that, by the grace of God, the hand of God, there might be a victim lying there unconscious but still alive.”

7. RESCUERS WORKING ON SITE

8. MAN DIGGING THROUGH RUBBLE

9. RESCUERS WORKING

10. PILE OF RUBBLE

11. DESTROYED BUILDING, RESCUERS WORKING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ORLANDO BARRIOS, WHO HAS FAMILY THAT LIVED IN THE COLLAPSED BUILDING, SAYING:

“Well, we have (inaudible) and so we’re still waiting for other relatives to be there (inaudible); we hope it’s them… just one person (inaudible) but we’re still waiting.”

13. DESTROYED BALCONIES

14. RESCUERS ON PILE OF RUBBLE

15. RUBBLE

16. HEAVY MACHINERY, RESCUERS WORKING