Venezuela Twin Quake Update: 188 Dead, 1,520 Injured

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that shook Venezuela has risen to 188, as rescue operations continue for survivors trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. The announcement of the increased number of fatalities was made by the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, who also reported that 1,520 people have been injured. The twin quakes, recorded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening local time. Rodriguez stated that offers of rescue and humanitarian assistance are continuing to arrive from various parties. Meanwhile, strong aftershocks were still being felt on Thursday. The state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, was the worst affected, with residents staggering through the debris calling out for loved ones or trying in vain to rescue the injured. “There is a point where a young woman named Jennifer, who lived on the 11th floor, answered my call. But we have no equipment; we have no way to help her,” said Antonio Bermudez, a resident of a collapsed building in La Guaira. According to Bermudez, in another part of the ruins, a father and son used a crowbar to shift large chunks of concrete to reach two other sons. “They are still alive… there is nothing more we can do. We asked them not to strain their voices and to take short breaths, hoping that at least the three people trapped there can be saved.” In the aftermath, residents looted a local supermarket in La Guaira. The coastal city also suffered a power blackout, and many people spent the night on the streets or searching for their relatives. “We thank God that we are still alive, but there are people who are suffering right now because their family members are trapped under the rubble or crushed by buildings, with no way to get them out,” a local resident, Yilsmaris Blanco, told AFP.