Quakes rock Venezuela, killing at least 32 and injuring hundreds

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring 700 as buildings collapsed in and around the capital Caracas, interim President Delcy Rodriguez said.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS, using predictive modeling to estimate the death toll, said it would most likely run into the thousands, with a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.

Rodriguez said initial figures do not include casualties from La Guaira state, near Caracas and home to the city’s airport, which is the worst affected. "Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save," she said in an appearance on state television just before 1 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Thursday.

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Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save.

"I also want to say that this is a true tragedy. From here, we send our message of solidarity, and to those families who have lost loved ones, we reaffirm our condolences and our support in these difficult hours," she added. The country is focused on rescue efforts, including the arrival in the coming hours of rescue crews from other countries, she said, as she thanked leaders including US President Donald Trump.

Trump said in a post on social media the US was ready, willing and able to help in the disaster. "The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths," said Trump, who ordered the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a violent raid in January.

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I also want to say that this is a true tragedy. From here, we send our message of solidarity, and to those families who have lost loved ones, we reaffirm our condolences and our support in these difficult hours.

Three people were killed in the Baruta district in Caracas after two buildings collapsed, the district mayor said on social media. One person was killed and four buildings had completely collapsed, Gustavo Duque, the mayor of Chacao district in the capital told journalists.

"We have buildings, homes and houses which have collapsed and we are taking care of things with everything we have available in terms of security, civil assistance," Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television.

Video footage showed emergency workers climbing through the ruins of a collapsed building in the capital as night fell, while distraught relatives sought help for loved ones believed to be trapped.

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The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths.

"When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie," said Maria Alejandra, a resident from a nearby building, who did not give her surname. "We had to climb over the rubble and everything. The building superintendent with the baby and all the neighbors coming down. But from that building, I only saw that one family got out."

A tsunami warning was issued but swiftly canceled after the danger passed. Many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes struck during a public holiday. "There was a very loud crash. Things fell in the house, jugs inside the refrigerator."

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We have buildings, homes and houses which have collapsed and we are taking care of things with everything we have available in terms of security, civil assistance.