At least 32 people have been killed and 700 injured in two earthquakes that rocked northern Venezuela on Wednesday, according to officials. The back-to-back quakes struck at around 6pm local time, with the first measuring 7.2 magnitude about 160km (100 miles) west of Caracas. A second, more powerful tremor of 7.5 magnitude hit just a minute later, making it the strongest earthquake to hit the country since 1900.
State of Emergency Declared
Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes collapsed buildings and forced the closure of the main airport. Emergency services are working to rescue survivors and treat the injured, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.
Impact and Response
The quakes caused widespread damage across northern Venezuela, with reports of collapsed homes, damaged infrastructure, and power outages. The government has mobilized military and civil defense units to assist in rescue and relief efforts. International aid agencies have offered support, and the United Nations has expressed condolences.
Residents are urged to remain cautious as aftershocks continue. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but officials fear the death toll could rise as search operations continue.
