164 Dead in Venezuela After Twin Quakes Rock Capital
At least 164 people are dead and hundreds more injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in rapid succession, triggering widespread panic and collapsing buildings across the region.
Two massive earthquakes hit Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, just seconds apart on Wednesday, leaving at least 164 people dead and more than 700 injured, according to government officials [181618][181589][181430]. The first quake registered a magnitude of 7.2, followed by a second at 7.5, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) [181260][181007]. The back-to-back tremors caused severe damage, with images showing collapsed buildings, debris-filled streets, and residents fleeing for safety [181184][181280]. The government has declared a state of emergency to coordinate rescue and relief efforts [181589]. Rescue crews are searching for survivors amid the rubble, and officials warn the death toll may rise as more areas are reached [181618][181584]. The quakes are the deadliest to hit the country in 126 years [181584]. Panic spread across the city, with one resident saying, “I thought the building would fall on top of me” [181260]. The shaking was also felt in neighboring Colombia [181007].