Two earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7 struck Venezuela just 30 seconds apart, leaving 235 dead.

Rescue teams in Venezuela are continuing their search for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings, following two devastating earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday, resulting in a widespread humanitarian disaster with a provisional death toll of 235, 1,520 injured, and 157 missing, amid warnings that the numbers could rise as search operations continue.

The country is in a state of shock and panic, as citizens spread out among the rubble in a desperate attempt to rescue their trapped relatives, under complex conditions that hinder the work of rescue teams, and a clear shortage of heavy equipment and specialized personnel.

Two consecutive earthquakes with a magnitude exceeding 7

According to preliminary data, the first earthquake struck the country at 6:04 PM local time, with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale, at a depth of 21.9 kilometers, and at a distance of approximately 200 kilometers from the capital, Caracas.

Just 39 seconds later, a second, stronger earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, 45 kilometers from the capital, followed by about 30 aftershocks recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey, which increased the panic and hampered rescue operations.

Widespread destruction in La Guaira and collapse of residential buildings

The state of La Guaira, north of the capital, is among the worst-affected areas, where entire residential buildings have collapsed, and residents have spent long hours among the rubble calling for their relatives and trying to reach them with their bare hands in some cases.

In one harrowing incident, a resident reported hearing a child's cries for help from beneath the rubble, but rescue attempts failed before emergency services arrived. In another incident, a survivor described people trapped alive inside a completely collapsed building, with no way to reach them.

Field testimonies reveal the scale of the tragedy

Eyewitnesses reported that rescue operations were proceeding very slowly due to a lack of resources, while a paramedic confirmed that the situation was "extremely dangerous" as a result of inadequate equipment.

In hospitals, medical teams received dozens of injured people, including children who were pulled from under the rubble without their parents, amid great pressure on the health sector in the disaster-stricken areas.

State of emergency declared and major airport operations suspended

The Venezuelan government declared La Guaira state a "disaster area," while acting President Delcy Rodriguez visited the affected areas. Maiquetia International Airport, which serves the capital Caracas, was closed due to severe damage to its infrastructure, which could hinder the arrival of international aid.

Caracas in shock amid scenes of destruction and looting

In the capital, Caracas, widespread panic was reported, particularly in the Altamira neighborhood, where a 22-story building collapsed. Looting was also observed in some affected areas amidst escalating security chaos.

Widespread international solidarity and urgent aid

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep sadness, stressing the need to mobilize international efforts to support Venezuela, while several countries, including Switzerland, Spain, France, Portugal and Mexico, announced they would send rescue teams and urgent aid.

Other countries, such as China, India, Brazil, and Iran, also offered support, while the United States announced it would allocate $150 million for humanitarian aid and send specialized search and rescue teams.

Tremors felt in the surrounding area and geological warnings issued

The earthquakes were felt by residents in Colombia and Brazil, but no tsunami risks were recorded, while experts confirmed that Venezuela is located in a seismically active area at the meeting point of the Caribbean and South American plates.

This disaster is considered one of the most violent in the country's modern history, compared to the 1900 earthquake, which is considered one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region.