Emergency responders across Venezuela are continuing large-scale rescue operations after twin earthquakes claimed at least 235 lives and left widespread destruction in their wake.
Officials believe that nearly 200 people remain buried under collapsed buildings, raising fears that the casualty count could increase further.
The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within 40 seconds of each other on Wednesday.
Both originated at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres, releasing intense energy near the surface and causing catastrophic damage across the country’s central coast and the capital, Caracas.
Search teams are facing increasingly difficult conditions as persistent aftershocks threaten unstable buildings and complicate rescue work.
The earthquakes also triggered extensive power failures, disrupted communication networks, and caused severe damage to residential and commercial structures.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said rescue personnel are working continuously to locate survivors, stressing that every passing hour is critical in the effort to save those trapped beneath the rubble.
The government has unveiled several emergency initiatives to accelerate relief and reconstruction.
Officials have directed private companies to deploy heavy equipment for debris removal and approved a 200-million-US-dollar emergency relief fund to support affected communities.
Special financial assistance and credit facilities will also be made available to businesses impacted by the disaster.
Experts have pointed to ageing infrastructure and decades of limited investment as factors that worsened the scale of destruction.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil confirmed that Venezuela is coordinating with international partners after numerous countries offered humanitarian assistance.
While relief supplies begin arriving, authorities remain focused on rescuing survivors, restoring essential services, and rebuilding areas devastated by one of the country’s deadliest earthquakes in recent history.
Also Read: Venezuela Declares State Of Emergency After Twin Earthquakes
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