Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night, collapsing dozens of buildings, and killed at least 164 people. The two earthquakes, measuring at a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5, the second being the strongest since 1900.
Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency Thursday morning. Rodriguez said that 971 people where injured, and more casualties were expected. She also reported 30 aftershocks on Wednesday night, urging evacuations and asking the population to “remain calm and united.”
The worst of the destruction happened around the nations capital, Caracas. Airports and metros across the nation have been halted. The USGS described the 7.2 magnitude earth quake as a “foreshock” and the 7.5 that proceeded it, the “mainshock”.
On Friday, the death toll climbed to 920. Images from Reuters show military personnel arrive, with trucks and lorries. According to Venezuelan lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez, that among the death toll at 920, there were 383 buildings damaged. Some of the damage included 13 hospitals and 25 shopping centers, and at least 1,000 infrastructure sites
The UK has sent it’s own Search and Rescue personnel to the affected area’s, on a flight that left RAF Brize Norton. UK PM Kier Starmer saying: “The UK stands in solidarity with all those affected, particularly those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.”
The United States has also pledged its help to Venezuela after the earthquakes. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was willing and ready to send aid to Venezuela, saying “The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and left a devastating number of deaths.”
U.S. aid arrived in Venezuela on Friday, USA-01 acting as part of a State Department response team.
Saber is monitoring the situation, more updates to come.
