Key facts
- Two earthquakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela's northern coast and capital Caracas.
- Buildings collapsed in Caracas and the coastal region, including the international airport.
- Residents described intense fear and panic, with many evacuating and sleeping outdoors.
- The official death toll reached 164 on Thursday morning and is expected to increase.
- Rescue efforts are underway to find survivors in the rubble.
Two powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela's northern coast and capital Caracas on Wednesday, causing widespread panic, building collapses, and evacuations. Residents described the tremors as the strongest they had experienced, with many fearing aftershocks and sleeping outdoors.
In Caracas, residents like 18-year-old Sebastian Rodríguez scrambled out of fractured buildings. His family's shop in the Centro Plaza, a 1970s commercial center, appeared spared, but surrounding areas suffered significant damage. At least three buildings in the affluent Los Palos Grandes and Altamira neighborhoods collapsed. Emergency workers and volunteers searched for survivors in the rubble of residential buildings.
Working-class areas like Catia were also devastated, with residents losing homes and fearing further collapse. Many planned to sleep outdoors due to fear. The earthquakes were described as the worst since 1900.
The international airport in La Guaira sustained severe damage and was closed, potentially hindering humanitarian aid. Dozens of buildings, including hotels, collapsed in the coastal region. The official death toll reached 164 on Thursday morning and was expected to rise. Rescue workers managed to free three siblings from a pancaked building in La Guaira.