Death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to at least 188, with more than 1,500 people injured and hundreds still trapped beneath collapsed structures, authorities have confirmed.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to the President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, at least 188 people have lost their lives, while 1,520 others have been injured in the disaster. He added that about 200 people remain trapped as emergency teams continue search-and-rescue operations.
The powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck just one minute apart, causing widespread destruction in the capital, Caracas, and the coastal state of La Guaira.
The United Nations reported that more than 100 buildings collapsed as a result of the tremors, prompting frantic rescue efforts across affected communities.
Rescuers have continued combing through rubble in search of survivors, while videos circulating online showed residents running for safety as buildings shook violently.
One resident in Caracas described the terrifying experience, saying it felt like “the world was moving for a long time.”
Another survivor, identified as Leander, told the BBC he was forced to spend the night on the street after his home was damaged by the earthquakes.
Authorities also disclosed that at least 2,927 families have been displaced after losing their homes in the disaster.
The second earthquake was reported to be the strongest to strike Venezuela since 1900, raising concerns about the scale of destruction and the possibility of additional casualties.
The U.S. Geological Survey had earlier warned that the final death toll could be significantly higher, given the magnitude of the earthquakes and the extent of structural damage recorded in affected areas.
Emergency responders, military personnel and humanitarian organisations remain on the ground as efforts continue to locate survivors, assist the injured and provide relief to displaced residents.
