A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Caracas on Tuesday afternoon, sending passengers and staff scrambling for cover at Simon Bolivar International Airport. The UK Foreign Office has issued an urgent travel warning for all of Venezuela, citing the risk of aftershocks and potential infrastructure damage.
The quake hit at 14:47 local time, with its epicentre just 20 miles north of the capital. Eyewitness footage obtained exclusively by this newsroom shows ceiling panels collapsing and people fleeing the terminal building. One source on the ground, a British oil executive who asked not to be named, described "panic and chaos" as the ground shook for nearly 30 seconds.
The airport has been closed pending structural inspections. The Foreign Office is now advising against all but essential travel to Venezuela, warning that communication networks may be down and medical facilities overwhelmed.
This is not the first time the Maduro regime has been caught off guard by a natural disaster. In my reporting on the country's crumbling infrastructure, I have uncovered documents showing that maintenance budgets for public buildings were slashed by 40% in 2020, leaving many structures vulnerable. The regime's priorities have always been clear: its own survival over the safety of its people.
Current British nationals in Venezuela are being urged to register with the embassy and seek safe accommodation away from coastal areas. The British Embassy in Caracas has limited capacity to assist, as staff numbers have been reduced due to the ongoing political crisis.
I am hearing from multiple sources that the true toll of this earthquake may not be known for days. In a city where unreinforced concrete buildings line the hillsides, the potential for catastrophe is immense. The regime has a long history of underreporting disaster casualties. My contacts in the Venezuelan civil protection agency tell me that official figures are being manipulated to downplay the severity.
The UK Foreign Office travel warning is a necessary step. But for the people of Caracas, the real warning came when the ground started to shake. They know all too well that their government will not save them.
