Two massive earthquakes just minutes apart have left Venezuela reeling, and the UN is now racing to help.

So, here’s the latest from Venezuela, and it’s heartbreaking. Two powerful earthquakes hit the north of the country late Wednesday, striking less than a minute apart and leaving a trail of destruction behind them.

UN Secretary General António Guterres has already come out in solidarity with Venezuela, according to UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, who briefed journalists on Thursday at UN headquarters in New York. The message from the UN? They’re mobilising support, fast.

The numbers are tough to read. At least 164 people have been confirmed dead and 971 others injured, but we still don’t know the full scale of what’s happened in la Guaira — the state hit hardest.

As cbinews.tv reports, the U.S. Geological Survey measured the first quake at 7.2 on the Richter Scale, with its epicentre near San Felipe, a city of around 220,000 people. The second was even stronger — 7.5 magnitude — and it’s reportedly the most powerful tremor Venezuela has seen in over 125 years.

Guterres sent his sincere condolences to the families who’ve lost loved ones and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Initial reports point to significant destruction across several states, including Caracas. Many people have been killed or injured, others are still trapped or missing, and critical infrastructure has taken a hit. Basic services are disrupted too.

Right now, the UN team in Venezuela and the Humanitarian Country Team are working closely with the Government and partners to get aid moving. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is helping deploy urban search-and-rescue teams, and Guterres has welcomed the wave of solidarity and support coming from other countries.

Venezuela’s Government has declared a state of emergency. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez called it “an incident with serious consequences” on Wednesday, and international teams are already on their way. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said the UN and humanitarian partners are fully mobilised, with a central coordination hub now set up in Caracas to make sure help reaches people quickly.

UNHCR also warned that the quake will likely make existing risks worse — especially for returnees, displaced people, and communities already struggling to access services. We’re talking heightened risks of gender-based violence, unsafe housing, and reduced access to healthcare, water, education and livelihoods.

The next few hours are critical, with more search-and-rescue teams expected to arrive soon. António Guterres

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