Caracas, Venezuela. Two powerful earthquakes struck areas in and around Caracas on Wednesday evening, killing hundreds, damaging buildings and leaving thousands homeless, with many people still trapped under rubble or unaccounted for on Thursday.
Quakes strike near the capital
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 km west of Caracas on Wednesday evening, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The second quake was described as the strongest since 1900.
Casualties and damage
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said late on Thursday that around 235 dead had been received by medical centers. He did not provide a total number of casualties.
Earlier in the day, Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s national assembly and brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, said 200 people had been trapped and 250 buildings had been damaged or destroyed.
Infrastructure under strain
The earthquakes hit a country already weakened by years of economic turmoil, leaving much of its infrastructure fragile and complicating rescue efforts as aftershocks continued to shake the capital and surrounding coastal areas.
At least eight hospitals, the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross and the French embassy were reported to have been badly damaged.
La Guaira among hardest hit
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said about 70,000 families in La Guaira state had been affected. La Guaira, the coastal state adjoining Caracas and home to the capital’s main airport, was among the hardest-hit areas.
“It has become a disaster zone,” acting President Rodriguez said, adding that the government was working with private companies to bring in heavy equipment and speed up rescues.
Airport closure and power shortages
Electricity remained scarce in parts of La Guaira, while Caracas airport was closed after suffering damage. Witness videos from the terminal showed panic as ceiling panels crashed down.