‘I thought I was going to die’: Devastation in Caracas after double earthquake

On Thursday morning, one day after a double earthquake rocked Venezuela, the streets of Caracas were filled with families seeking shelter and desperately looking for loved ones.

At 6:04 p.m. on June 24, a 7.2-magnitude quake hit the South American country, followed less than a minute later by a 7.5-magnitude tremor.

Rescue operations are underway, with 188 confirmed dead, 1,520 injured, and nearly 3,000 left homeless, according to the government. The death toll is expected to climb in the coming hours and days, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Overnight, Venezuelans waited with mattresses, tents, and sheets while authorities assessed the condition of their homes to determine whether they could return. Others slept in their cars to avoid the cold.

“It was horrible; I thought I was going to die,” said Deisy Delgado, who lives in downtown Caracas. The earthquake left her without electricity and she had to spend the night on the street for fear of the aftershocks—of which there have been more than a hundred since the two main tremors.

María Gutiérrez, a resident of the Chacao suburb of the capital, recalls rushing out into the street in a panic when the first tremor hit, causing objects like lamps and televisions to fall in her home.

“I started praying,” she said.

Now, Gutierrez is waiting to find out if her home is safe to return to, explaining that she is scared to return to her apartment in a municipality where at least four buildings collapsed, according to Mayor Gustavo Duque, killing at least 11.

Despite the terrifying events, Gutierrez said she is grateful to be alive given the magnitude of the tremor: “We have to think about all the people who have lost their lives because of the earthquake—it was very strong.”

Mary, another resident of Chacao who asked not to use her last name, said she never thought she would experience something like this. “It was very traumatic; we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive. It was devastating.” She was forced to sleep on the street because her apartment building had sustained serious damage, including large cracks.

In San Bernardino, a neighborhood in the western part of the city, large numbers of people were also seen sitting on sidewalks, waiting to find out the fate of their homes.

During the morning, public transportation was limited, with the government suspending the Caracas Metro to focus on rescue efforts, leading to long bus lines throughout the capital.

The few stores that opened did so to sell food, beverages, and other essential supplies, while long lines formed outside gas stations.

Venezuelans have reported damage in various states, and efforts are underway to clear debris and rescue those trapped under collapsed structures.

North of Caracas, the city of La Guaira was one of the worst hit areas, described by interim president Delcy Rodríguez as “a disaster zone”.

Glenda Sequera, a resident of La Guaira, says this is worse than the Vargas tragedy – a flash flood that occurred in 1999 and left thousands dead across the country.

“This is another tragedy; it’s horrible. There are many people missing, dead, or trapped under the rubble,” she told the Herald.

Sequera added that they have not received any help from the authorities and that is what they need most right now. “I don’t see enough help; we need humanitarian aid from everyone who can provide it. We’ll be grateful because we, the people of Vargas, are grateful people,” she said through tears.

In response to the events, President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national emergency and ordered the suspension of classes throughout the country.

She also urged healthcare workers to assist at hospitals. “I want to ask doctors, nurses, and all healthcare personnel to report to their workplaces so that we can treat the people who are being brought to the emergency rooms of both hospitals and private health centers,” she said.

The United States said that it would send aid and rescue teams to help with the disaster response.

“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!” wrote President Donald Trump on X.