**Title: ‘We hugged each other and ran’: Venezuelans recount earthquake horror**
**Date: June 25, 2026**
Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes that struck the country within moments of each other on Wednesday, June 25, 2026. The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, have caused widespread devastation, particularly in the capital city of Caracas, where scenes of panic, collapsing buildings, and desperate rescues have emerged.
As rescue teams continue to sift through the rubble, authorities have declared a state of emergency, suspending classes and closing the nation’s primary airport. Healthcare workers have been urged to report to hospitals as the country faces a growing humanitarian crisis. Thousands are feared dead, and the situation remains precarious as search and rescue operations are underway.
Witnesses have shared harrowing accounts of the moments when the earthquakes struck. Jesus Alejandro Pina, a 38-year-old engineer who was on the top floor of a seven-storey building in Caracas, described the intensity of the tremors. “It was very, very strong,” he recounted. “I don’t know exactly how long it lasted, but it felt like about a minute.” Pina noted the chaos around him, with glass shattering and objects falling as the structure shook. As an engineer, he understood the potential for catastrophic failure if the shaking persisted. “The movement in the columns and beams helps absorb energy,” he explained, “but if it lasts too long, it can reach a breaking point. That’s when collapses happen.”
Once the shaking subsided, Pina and many others rushed into the streets, where the extent of the destruction became evident. “Everyone was in the streets, in the squares, outside their homes,” he said. “People looked alert, nervous. There were many injured. Firefighters and paramedics were pulling people from under the rubble.” As night fell, the streets remained crowded with residents, many of whom were unable to return home due to fears of aftershocks.
Luis Alejandro Ruiz Garcia, a 25-year-old resident of Caracas’s El Paraiso neighborhood, described his experience as the earthquakes unfolded. He received a Google earthquake alert on his phone just moments before his apartment began to shake violently. “My mother and my sister, who were with me, got up from their beds in fear,” he said. “We hugged each other and, as soon as we could, managed to go downstairs and get out of my building as quickly as possible.” Outside, he witnessed the chaos firsthand, with orange dust filling the air from a collapsed building just three blocks away.
Ruiz Garcia noted the desperation of those around him as he searched for his grandmother. “The building across the street was a wreck. It looked like one of those images from a country at war,” he recalled. “You could hear people screaming for help so they could get out.” Many elderly residents, particularly those who lived alone after their children emigrated due to Venezuela’s ongoing economic crisis, were trapped under the rubble.
As rescue efforts continue, Venezuelan authorities have confirmed at least 32 fatalities, although they caution that the death toll is likely to rise significantly as search and rescue operations progress. The United States Geological Survey has estimated a 44 percent chance of more than 10,000 deaths and a 33 percent chance that the toll could exceed 100,000.
Compounding the challenges faced by rescue teams, communications have been disrupted in several regions, leaving many families unable to reach their loved ones. This lack of connectivity poses additional difficulties for authorities as they work to assess the full scale of the disaster and coordinate relief efforts.
The situation remains fluid as Venezuela navigates this unprecedented crisis, with many citizens left in shock and uncertainty. As the nation comes to terms with the devastation, the resilience of its people is being tested, and the road to recovery will undoubtedly be long and arduous.