Caracas Struck by Two Massive Earthquakes, Buildings Collapsed

Tue Jun 30 2026 18:24:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Two powerful quakes hit Caracas seconds apart, the 7.5‑magnitude tremor tops a century’s record, prompting emergency measures.

In an unprecedented event, Caracas was shaken by two powerful earthquakes that struck seconds apart. The second quake measured 7.5 on the Richter scale, making it the strongest seismic event in South America for a century. Buildings collapsed, residents evacuated street‑side relief, and media captured the devastation live. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency as emergency services responded.

Caracas hit by two massive earthquakes

In an unprecedented event, Caracas was shaken by two powerful earthquakes that struck seconds apart. The first spike was already intense, but the second quake — a 7.5‑magnitude tremor — rattled the city to its core, making it the strongest seismic event recorded in South America over a century.

Buildings collapsed in the downtown area and residents were seen rushing onto the streets in a frantic bid for safety. The BBC captured the scenes on video, showing the scale of the destruction and the city's frantic response.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez promptly declared a state of emergency, mobilizing emergency services and lifting a special alert so the public could receive timely information and emergency aid.

Key Take‑aways

The second quake reached a magnitude of 7.5, the most powerful in the region for 100 years.
Buildings across Caracas collapsed, prompting mass evacuations.
An emergency state has been declared by the interim government.
BBC footage offers a real‑time look at the disaster’s aftermath.