“The immense force of the earthquakes that struck Venezuela unites us all around a country that many Portuguese call home,” wrote Luís Montenegro on the social media platform X.

Luís Montenegro assured that “the government is monitoring the situation closely and is ready to send emergency and humanitarian aid.”

“To Venezuela and the Venezuelan people, as well as to the Portuguese and those of Portuguese descent, I offer my firm support and total solidarity,” he added.

Two major earthquakes were recorded in Venezuela on Wednesday, leaving at least 150 people dead and more than 700 injured, according to the provisional official toll.

The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, struck approximately 200 kilometres from Caracas; it was followed by a second quake measuring 7.5 and about 20 aftershocks, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Dozens of buildings collapsed or sustained severe damage in La Guaira, located north of Caracas, which was among the hardest-hit areas.

Venezuelan authorities have declared a state of emergency.

Also, several Portuguese nationals told Lusa today that they were trying to recover from the shock of the intense earthquake felt overnight in Caracas, Venezuela.

“We are trying to stop shaking from the fright. It was an intense, or very strong, earthquake that lasted a long time; it felt like it would never end.

"We are still worried about potential aftershocks,” a merchant explained to the Lusa agency.

José Gonçalves was at home in the La Campiña neighbourhood of Caracas when he felt his sofa shaking, followed shortly by the entire apartment, before the power went out.

“It was the strongest tremor I’ve ever felt; my body is still shaking from fear. Vases and everything else on the furniture fell off and are now in pieces on the floor,” he explained.

Despite communication difficulties, several Portuguese nationals told Lusa by phone that the earthquake was also strongly felt in towns such as Valencia, 150 kilometres to the west, and Higuerote, 120 kilometres to the east of the capital. According to Matilde Freitas, several aftershocks were felt; parts of Higuerote lost power and phone service, and some people fled their buildings in tears, overcome by fear.

Also in Caracas, Venezuelan national Juan Carlos Garcia Pérez explained to Lusa that he “was lying down watching television when suddenly the bed started shaking. I got up, and a few seconds later, the shaking became very sudden and much stronger.”

“I looked out the window at other buildings, and they were shaking too. I didn't know whether to wait for it to pass or go down to the street immediately,” he emphasised. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake, with its epicentre near the capital, Caracas, struck Venezuela tonight, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

According to the media outlet 'eldiario', preliminary reports indicate multiple injuries in Guatire, in the state of Miranda. Damage to various structures in Caracas was also reported.