The death toll from two consecutive powerful earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to at least 188, while rescue teams and local residents are rushing to assist those trapped under collapsed buildings.
On Thursday (25 June), rescue teams and local residents in Venezuela made relentless efforts to help loved ones trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings following two consecutive strong earthquakes, which have so far claimed at least 188 lives.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, occurring less than one minute apart near the capital city Caracas, in northern Venezuela, on Wednesday evening local time. These quakes caused many houses and buildings to crack and collapse.
Currently, international aid and rescue teams are arriving continuously. Jorge Rodriguez, President of the National Assembly, revealed that the death toll has risen to 188 with another 1,520 injured. Additionally, strong aftershocks continued to be felt on Thursday.
La Guaira city, located north of Caracas, suffered severe damage. Residents walked through debris, shouting family members' names and doing their utmost to rescue the injured.
"At one point, a woman named Jennifer on the 11th floor responded to my voice, but we had no equipment at all. We had no way to rescue her," said Antonio Bermudez, a local whose apartment building in La Guaira collapsed.
Bermudez added that at another spot in the rubble, a father and his son were using crowbars and shovels to pry open large concrete slabs to reach his two other sons trapped inside.
"They are still alive... but there is nothing more we can do. We can only tell them not to make too much noise and to breathe shallowly, hoping that at least the three trapped there will be rescued."
Meanwhile, AFP reporters on the ground observed groups of locals looting a supermarket in La Guaira amid widespread power outages. Many residents spent the night sleeping on the streets or searching for missing relatives.
Switzerland, Spain, France, Portugal, and Mexico are among the first countries to send rescue teams and experts to Venezuela. China, India, Brazil, and Iran have also offered assistance. Additionally, Pope Leo XIV has donated an initial 100,000 euros for relief efforts.
However, the international airport in La Guaira was heavily damaged and forced to close, potentially complicating relief operations and the transport of aid supplies.
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Source:cna