Death toll rises rapidly after powerful earthquakes in Venezuela

The death toll from powerful earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to at least 164, with over 970 injured, as residents desperately searched for loved ones amid widespread destruction. The tremors, which struck near the capital, have caused numerous buildings to collapse.

The strongest earthquakes registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The 7.5 magnitude quake is the largest recorded in Venezuela since 1900, highlighting the severity of the seismic activity. Rescue teams and locals worked through the night, navigating the rubble in search of survivors. The state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, appears to have been particularly hard-hit.

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We have nothing, right now we have nothing, not even the strength or the courage to go in there, just imagine.

Residents described scenes of devastation. Larry Rojas, 49, spoke of the despair of standing before a collapsed building where his family was trapped, stating, "We have nothing, right now we have nothing, not even the strength or the courage to go in there, just imagine." The coastal city of Maiquetia, home to the Maiquetia International Airport, was left without power, and many residents spent the night outdoors or searching for relatives. The airport itself was closed due to "serious damage" to its infrastructure. International aid has been pledged by France, Spain, China, India, Brazil, and the United States, offering much-needed support for rescue and recovery efforts.

In response to the ongoing seismic activity and damage, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to evacuate their homes, citing safety concerns and the need to shut off gas supplies to some buildings to prevent further accidents. Venezuela is located in a seismically active region, with previous major earthquakes recorded in 1997 (73 deaths) and 1967 (236 deaths).

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We have some damaged buildings and we do not want any gas-related accidents to occur.