40 000 missing as rescuers race to find earthquake victims under rubble in Venezuela
Around 40,000 people are missing with thousands feared dead, after two earthquakes struck Venezuela.
Rescue teams are racing to reach the disaster zone in time to save people buried alive under the rubble.
The country’s interim president Delcy Rodriquez has declared a state of emergency.
The quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck a minute apart. The second was the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900. Areas worst hit were the capital Caracas and the state of La Guaria, where more than 100 large buildings collapsed. People have been heard calling for help from beneath the rubble.
Venezuela's main international airport in Maiquetía on the outskirts of Caracas has been closed due to serious damage.
Video Summary
AI GeneratedTwo powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, have devastated Venezuela, particularly the port city of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas. With at least 188 confirmed dead and thousands feared lost, the disaster struck during a national holiday. The shallow depth of the quakes and poor building standards in residential areas significantly amplified the destruction.