Residents of the capital Caracas were forced to evacuate their residences and seek shelter outdoors as the quakes, which struck less than 200 km from the capital, caused widespread damage.
At least 32 people have been killed and 700 have been injured after powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela, acting-President Delcy Rodríguez said in an update.
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The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes rocked the country on Wednesday evening, with buildings evacuated in cities as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometres from the Venezuelan capital Caracas.
In a brief address to the nation late on Wednesday, Rodríguez said the earthquakes caused damages in several states.
The quakes damaged the country’s main airport, Simón Bolívar International, severely enough leading to its closure, she said, adding that school was being cancelled for several days to deal with the crisis at hand.
“We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez added. “We urge unity.”
Rodríguez also asked all health care professionals in the country to report to hospitals to assist anyone who was injured. The Ministry of Education said some schools would be used as shelters and donation centres in the heavily affected regions.
The US Geological Survey initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that figure to 7.2.
Its epicentre was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometres west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometres.
The agency reported a larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometres and its epicentre was 16 kilometres southwest of Morón.
The quakes, among the strongest to strike the South American nation in more than a century, hit shortly after 6 pm local time. People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street.
Dust columns could also be seen in two neighbourhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.
People remained on the streets for hours, even after sunset. Some sat on the ground hugging their pets as dust gathered around them. Collapsed buildings, toppled electric poles and debris blocked streets. Parts of the capital lost power and cell phone reception.
“It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together,” Hector Ricci, a Caracas resident, said.
Rodríguez, who declared a state of emergency, said subway and natural gas services in the capital had been suspended. She also urged Venezuelans to report any damages through a government app.
Responding to the news in a post on his Truth Social account, US President Donald Trump wrote: "The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths".
"The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help," he added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would "immediately" deploy "search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela".