Twin Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela, Leave Dozens Dead and Hundreds Injured
At least 32 people have been confirmed dead and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other, triggering widespread destruction across the country.
The twin tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit west of the capital, Caracas, on Wednesday, causing buildings to collapse, damaging infrastructure and sending residents rushing into the streets.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the disaster as a national tragedy, warning that the death toll could rise as emergency teams continue searching through the rubble of collapsed homes and buildings.
According to officials, the hardest-hit areas include La Guaira state and parts of Caracas, where rescue workers have been deployed in large numbers to locate survivors trapped beneath debris.
Authorities declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes and a series of aftershocks rattled several regions.
Schools were closed, some public buildings were converted into temporary shelters, and emergency medical teams were mobilized across the country.
Rodríguez said international assistance was already being coordinated, with several countries offering support for rescue and humanitarian operations.
The earthquakes also forced the closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport after damage was reported at the facility.
Power outages and internet disruptions affected parts of the capital and surrounding communities, complicating communication and rescue efforts.
Officials urged residents to remain outdoors where possible as engineers assess the safety of damaged structures and monitor the risk posed by continuing aftershocks.
Foreign leaders, including US President Donald Trump, expressed solidarity with Venezuela and pledged assistance. Governments across the region also announced plans to send humanitarian aid and emergency response teams.
Emergency services worked through the night as families searched for missing relatives and rescuers combed through collapsed buildings in hopes of finding survivors.
Experts said the quakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century. The country sits in a seismically active region where the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates meet, making it vulnerable to powerful earthquakes.
With rescue operations still ongoing, authorities fear the number of casualties could increase significantly in the coming days.
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