Venezuela experienced one of the most brutal seismic days of the century. This Wednesday, two earthquakes between 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude shook the country less than a minute apart, leaving a trail of collapses, power outages, and mass evacuations. And as if that were not enough, panic seized a baseball game in progress.
The match between Marineros de Carabobo and Senadores de Caracas, being played at the Estadio Universitario in Caracas, was abruptly interrupted when the ground began to move. Images that went viral show players at home plate frozen in confusion, while the catcher and umpire abandon their positions. Within seconds, panic takes over the field: players and fans run toward the open field as cameras capture the violent swaying of the stadium structure.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first quake was 7.2 and the second 7.5, with epicenters near Morón on the Caribbean coast. Both movements occurred at shallow depths — 13 and 10 kilometers — explaining the ferocity with which they were felt even inside the stadium. The tremor not only interrupted the game but unleashed chaos in Caracas, Carabobo, and Yaracuy.
While at the stadium people sought shelter, elsewhere in the capital the situation was much more serious. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency on national television. «The priority is to rescue lives; later we will see how to tackle material reconstruction,» she said, urging unity. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reported that houses and buildings collapsed in Caracas, with «alarming» situations in the Altamira neighborhood. «We are attending to them with all security and assistance agencies, civil protection,» he stated, while asking the population to remain outdoors due to possible aftershocks.
The mayor of Chacao, Gustavo Duque, confirmed fatalities, although without giving an exact figure due to the magnitude of the destruction. So far, the Major League of Professional Baseball has not issued a statement on the condition of players or fans, but on its social media it published a list of hospitals and clinics available for the emergency. The stadium, with a capacity of over 25,000 people, was urgently evacuated.
The scene of the suspended game is just one snapshot of a phenomenon that shook an entire country. While rescue teams work against the clock, Venezuela tries to come to terms with the magnitude of the tragedy. Aftershocks continue, and fear gives no respite.
para mi los terremotos son un castigo de dios x dejar q estos politicos comunistas arruinen venezuela los jugadors corrieron como maricones mientras el pueblo se muere de hambre viva la libertad carajo firmado ElNacionalista777
Para mí esto es clarísimo: la naturaleza le pega a los mismos de siempre. Los ricachones huyen como ratas del estadio mientras los pobres quedan bajo los escombros. El capitalismo es una mierda, ni solidaridad tienen. Viva el socialismo carajo.