TWO EARTHQUAKES STRIKE VENEZUELA, BUILDINGS COLLAPSE IN CARACAS

Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Venezuela within 40 seconds of each other on Wednesday evening. The first tremor occurred near San Felipe, followed by the stronger quake close to Yumare in Yaracuy state. Several multi-storey buildings collapsed in the capital Caracas, trapping people under rubble. Acting president Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency. Authorities stated they feared heavy casualties, though the death toll remained unknown at the time of reporting.

Venezuela's main international airport closed due to severe damage sustained in the earthquakes. Hundreds of emergency workers deployed to search damaged buildings across affected regions. The US Geological Survey assessed there was a 44 per cent chance that fatalities could exceed 10,000. More than 20 aftershocks were recorded following the initial quakes. Officials warned residents to stay away from unsafe structures whilst rescue operations continued.

Residents poured into streets as further aftershocks threatened additional destruction. Many residents remained unwilling to return to their homes amid widespread power outages and damaged infrastructure. Rescue efforts proceeded across the hardest-hit regions as authorities worked to locate survivors trapped in collapsed structures.