CARACAS, Venezuela, Jun 25 – A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Venezuela’s northern coast on Wednesday, collapsing homes and buildings in the capital Caracas and causing widespread destruction across several regions.

The devastating quake hit just 40 seconds after a strong 7.2 magnitude foreshock rattled the area, triggering panic among residents and forcing thousands to flee buildings and homes.

Authorities said the back-to-back tremors were felt across much of Venezuela and neighbouring countries, with the strongest impact reported in Caracas where several structures suffered major damage or collapsed entirely.

Emergency response teams were deployed across affected areas as rescue operations intensified amid fears that people could be trapped under debris.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos in the capital as roads cracked, power outages were reported in some neighbourhoods, and frightened residents gathered in open spaces following the earthquakes.

Videos shared online showed damaged apartment blocks, shattered windows, and debris scattered across streets as sirens echoed through parts of Caracas.

Government officials urged citizens to remain calm and stay alert for possible aftershocks, while disaster response agencies continued assessing the scale of the destruction.

Hospitals and emergency centres were placed on high alert as authorities worked to determine the number of casualties and injuries linked to the earthquakes.

Seismologists warned that the powerful twin tremors could trigger additional aftershocks in the coming hours and days.

The earthquakes rank among the strongest to hit Venezuela in recent years, raising concerns over the structural safety of buildings in densely populated urban centres.