Venezuelans combed through rubble Thursday, searching for survivors after two powerful earthquakes struck the country, killing at least 188 people and leaving more than 200 trapped. Rescue teams rushed to the hardest‑hit northern areas.
The 7.2‑ and 7.5‑magnitude shocks, which hit on Wednesday evening, were among the strongest in Venezuela in more than a century and were felt across the region.
About 1,500 individuals were injured, thousands were reported missing, and buildings as far away as Brazil’s Amazon were evacuated.
The coastal province of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, suffered the greatest damage and loss of life. The country’s main airport was also damaged and closed, complicating aid delivery.
In cities throughout northern Venezuela, frightened residents flooded the streets, wading through debris to locate missing loved ones. Rescue crews pulled injured children, animals and civilians covered in dust and blood from the concrete wreckage. Many families wept beside the ruins of their homes.
In La Guaira, retired teacher Juan Alberto Mendano navigated the wreckage, passing a dead body before spotting a trapped woman signaling for help.
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