- Two shallow quakes in Venezuela killed 188 people and injured 1,500 others.
- The US government pledged 150M dollars to aid the urgent rescue operations.
- Severe structural damage persists in Caracas and La Guaira during a holiday.
Search teams are digging through rubble in Caracas and La Guaira. A 7.2-magnitude quake hit first then a 7.5-magnitude one followed seconds later. These shallow tremors caused severe destruction near the capital. People were calling for help from under collapsed buildings during a national holiday.
The disaster occurred at 18:04 local time, when more folk were home. The first quake was 20.3km deep, while the second was 10km deep. The death toll is rising fast as the interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency for the nation.
Two powerful shallow earthquakes devastated northern Venezuela
Jorge Rodríguez noted 250 buildings were lost or damaged. A 10-storey hotel in La Guaira was reduced to rubble. Juan Ortiz, a medical student expressed his frustration. « I’m in shock and confusion and frustrated that I can’t help, » he said regarding missing friends.
Mayor Gustavo Duque reported 11 deaths at one ruined site in Chacao. Specialist teams are trying to clear debris to reach people who are hopefully still alive. The main airport in Maiquetía is closed. Dust and debris were seen falling from the terminal ceiling.
The USGS warned that extensive damage and high casualties are probable. There is a 42% chance of more than 10,000 deaths. These figures are rough estimates based on previous quakes and population size. They are not exact predictions of the final loss.
Luis Hernandez says economic crises make assessments difficult. Power cuts and internet failures happen frequently. Altamira and Los Palos Grandes were worst hit. These areas also suffered in 1967. Nicole Kolste felt the building shake so hard she thought it would fall.
The US promises 150M dollars. Donald Trump said he is « ready, willing and able to help! » Marco Rubio is deploying rescue teams and medical resources. This is a first test of ties with the US since the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in January.
