Rescue teams search through earthquake rubble in Caracas as death toll fears rise

Emergency services are engaged in a desperate search through the debris of collapsed buildings in Caracas, Venezuela, after the capital was struck by two powerful earthquakes. The confirmed death toll has reached at least 164, but authorities and international observers fear the number of fatalities could rise dramatically into the thousands.

Following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on Wednesday, rescue teams have been working tirelessly amidst the devastation. Witnesses described scenes of horror as buildings crumbled, trapping residents beneath the rubble. The city's infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, complicating rescue efforts and leaving many survivors in shock.

La Guaira state, near Caracas and home to the city's main airport, is reported to be a "disaster zone" with numerous buildings destroyed. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the immediate focus remains on saving lives and providing aid to those affected by the tremors and their powerful aftershocks.