Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Could Exceed 10,000
Picture: Reuters
Thousands of deaths were feared Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's capital, Caracas, and surrounding areas, causing widespread destruction and trapping many people beneath collapsed buildings.
A series of aftershocks further worsened the situation as rescue efforts continued.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 kilometers west of Caracas on Wednesday afternoon. Less than a minute later, a second and stronger magnitude 7.5 quake hit the same region.
As night fell, emergency crews intensified search-and-rescue operations in the rubble of collapsed buildings across Caracas. Families desperately searched for missing relatives while the injured were moved to safer locations.
“It felt like I was walking through a horror movie,” said Maria Alejandra, a resident of a neighboring building. “We had to climb over debris to get out. The building caretaker managed to escape with a child, but I only saw one family make it out of that building.”
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said at least 164 deaths had been confirmed so far. However, the figure does not include casualties from La Guaira state, one of the hardest-hit areas.
Videos circulating on social media showed collapsed rooftops and panicked residents running through the streets in La Guaira, home to Caracas' main international airport.
“Many buildings have collapsed,” Rodríguez said in a televised address. “We are doing everything possible to save as many lives as we can.”
She added, “La Guaira is now the site of a terrible tragedy. The entire region has become a disaster zone.”
A USGS impact model estimated that the death toll could reach several thousand and warned of a significant possibility that fatalities could exceed 10,000.
An online registry of missing persons created by opposition groups listed more than 10,000 people as missing as of 5:40 am local time Thursday.
Because the earthquakes struck during a public holiday, most residents were at home when the disaster occurred.
“The noise was terrifying,” said 56-year-old Coro Martinez, a resident of eastern Caracas. “Objects throughout the house fell over, even bottles inside the refrigerator. I have never experienced anything like this in my life.”
Source: Reuters (Adapted)
