The back-to-back quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency and warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings.

The hardest-hit area was La Guaira, located about 30 kilometers north of Caracas, where dozens of structures collapsed. Rescue operations remain underway, with emergency workers pulling survivors from the rubble overnight.

The earthquakes caused widespread disruption across the country. Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas was temporarily closed after sustaining damage, while metro services and natural gas supplies in the capital were suspended. Schools were ordered shut for several days, with some facilities being converted into emergency shelters and aid distribution centers.

The tremors were felt across much of northern South America, including parts of Brazil and Colombia. Several buildings were evacuated in Brazil’s Amazon region, though no major damage was reported outside Venezuela.

International assistance has begun arriving. The United States announced the deployment of search-and-rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian aid. Other countries, including Mexico, El Salvador, Qatar, Brazil, Argentina and China, also offered support.

Television footage showed rescue workers using heavy equipment and specialized tools to search collapsed structures. Many residents spent the night outdoors amid fears of aftershocks, while power outages and communication disruptions complicated emergency efforts.

Officials have urged citizens to remain cautious as aftershocks remain possible. Rescue operations are continuing in affected regions, particularly in La Guaira and the coastal state of Falcón, where authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage.

The earthquake occurred off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of approximately 50 kilometers. The strongest shaking was felt in parts of northern Honshu, including the town of Hashikami.

Residents reported only minor damage. One local resident told media that a photo frame had fallen from a shelf during the tremor. Television footage from nearby cities showed normal traffic conditions and functioning infrastructure shortly after the quake.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that some train services were temporarily suspended as a precaution while safety inspections were carried out.

Japan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire where several major tectonic plates meet. The country experiences hundreds of earthquakes annually and accounts for roughly 18 percent of global seismic activity.

The latest quake comes just two months after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck offshore near Iwate on April 20. Following that event, Japanese authorities issued a special advisory warning of an elevated risk of earthquakes measuring magnitude 8.0 or greater. The advisory was lifted after one week.

The memory of the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami remains strong across the country. That magnitude 9.0 disaster killed or left missing around 18,500 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation and have urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks, though no major disruptions have been reported so far.