Venezuela twin quakes kill at least 164, trapping many under rubble

A series of powerful earthquakes has devastated Venezuela, claiming at least 164 lives as residents desperately search for loved ones trapped beneath flattened buildings. The tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Wednesday evening near the capital, Caracas, causing widespread destruction.

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Right now, we have nothing, not even the strength or the courage to go in there

The coastal state of La Guaira bore the brunt of the disaster, with numerous residential buildings reduced to rubble or suffering severe structural damage. Many residents spent the night in the streets amidst power outages, searching for family members. Larry Rojas, 49, described the harrowing scene in Catia La Mar, a city in La Guaira, stating, "Right now, we have nothing, not even the strength or the courage to go in there," referring to a collapsed building where his family was trapped.

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We have a whole-of-government response. It’ll be big, it’ll be fast, and it’ll be effective

International aid is rapidly mobilizing, with rescue teams deploying from the United States and several European countries. United Nations-certified specialists are also en route. However, the relief effort faces significant challenges due to damaged infrastructure. The international airport near Caracas has been closed because of "serious damage," according to interim President Delcy Rodriguez, with social media footage showing the terminal's ceiling collapsing. The 7.5-magnitude quake is the most powerful to hit Venezuela since 1900.

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There are people alive in there and no one is coming to save them