Twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 rocked Venezuela, causing widespread damage, trapping residents and forcing the closure of the country’s main a…
1/6Twin earthquakes rock Venezuela | Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast just a minute apart on Wednesday evening, making them among the strongest to hit the country in more than a century. (Image: Reuters)
2/6Buildings collapse, airport shuts down | The earthquakes caused extensive damage, with buildings collapsing in Caracas and other cities. Simón Bolívar International Airport was forced to close after sustaining damage, while authorities also suspended classes for several days as rescue operations got underway. (Image: Reuters)
3/6Rescue efforts underway| Emergency teams rushed to rescue trapped residents as hospitals prepared for an influx of injured people. In Falcon state alone, at least 32 people were hospitalized and 15 others remained trapped hours after the quakes, prompting the government to ask healthcare workers to report for duty. Pictured above are a few men trying to help a man evacuate his damaged home. (Image: AP)
4/6Residents flee into the streets | Thousands of people ran out of homes, offices and restaurants as buildings swayed violently. Many spent hours outdoors after sunset, fearing aftershocks, while power outages, disrupted cellphone networks added to the chaos. (Image: AP)
5/6Tremors felt across the region | The powerful quakes were felt far beyond Venezuela, prompting evacuations of buildings in Brazil’s Amazon cities and being reported in parts of Colombia. Tsunami alerts were briefly issued for parts of the Caribbean, though Colombia said there was no threat to its coastline. (Image: AP)
6/6Leaders urge calm and solidarity | Acting President Delcy Rodríguez appealed for calm and unity as emergency crews assessed the damage. Messages of support also poured in from opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and foreign leaders, who expressed solidarity with Venezuelans facing the disaster. (Image: Reuters)
