At least 164 people were confirmed dead and 971 injured after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit on Wednesday about 160km west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez gave the updated figures after saying earlier that at least 32 people died and 700 were injured.
Emergency workers scrambled over the debris of a collapsed building in Caracas as night fell, while distraught relatives sought help for loved ones feared trapped.
Several dazed survivors were taken away, some on stretchers.
“When we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie,” said Maria Alejandra, a resident from a nearby building, who did not give her surname.
“We had to climb over the rubble and everything. The building superintendent with the baby and all the neighbours coming down. But from that building, I only saw that one family got out.”
Ms Rodriguez had said the initial casualty figures did not include those from worst-affected La Guaira state, near Caracas and home to the city’s airport, which had been closed.
She said that after the twin quakes struck the country more than 100 aftershocks were felt, NBC reports.
She also said that the United Nations was supporting rescue efforts with specialised personnel while a $US200 million fund would be established for the construction of vital infrastructure and housing.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the first quake measured 7.2 in magnitude, followed shortly after by a stronger 7.5 tremor. The epicentre was located about 27 kilometres west of the coastal town of Morón at a depth of roughly 13 kilometres.
The USGS initially warned in the immediate aftermath that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread”, initially estimating the potential death toll could reach between 10,000 and 100,000. The USGS later revised those figures to in the thousands with substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.
Ms Rodriguez earlier declared a state of emergency, with rescuers from other countries expected to arrive to assist recovery efforts.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” she said in an appearance on state television early on Thursday.
“We have buildings, homes and houses which have collapsed and we are taking care of things with everything we have available in terms of security, civil assistance,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television. “The fire department, police all have been activated.”
Caracas was among the hardest hit, with residents evacuating homes and offices as the tremors shook the capital. Authorities reported collapsed buildings in several districts, including Altamira, while emergency crews rushed to affected areas.
More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake, leaving many residents too afraid to return home.
Many Venezuelans were indoors when the earthquake struck, marking a public holiday commemorating the country’s 1821 independence victory from Spain.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and destruction.
“The stairs came away, the whole wall cracked. Things fell from the ceiling. It was horrible,” bank employee Odalis Escalona said.
“We waited for it to pass and then ran down the escalator,” Zenia Gonzalez added. “We had to wait because it was shaking too much. It lasted a long time.”
Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner in Caracas, said police helped her evacuate her building.
“This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said.
In Valencia, west of Caracas, one resident told Reuters: “Several walls in my building broke open or cracks formed. As soon as it stopped (shaking) my husband and I evacuated.”
Videos shared online showed passengers running for cover inside Simón Bolívar International Airport as the terminal shook and power flickered. Authorities later closed the airport as a precaution.
Power outages and internet disruptions were reported across parts of the country, compounding the chaos and making it difficult for families to contact loved ones.
The US Tsunami Warning System initially issued alerts for Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands, as well as nearby Caribbean islands including Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, warning of potentially hazardous waves.
International support has begun to flow, with the United States pledging to deploy a disaster response team, while Ecuador and El Salvador also offered humanitarian aid.
US President Donald Trump said early reports from Venezuela were “not good” and described a “devastating number of deaths”, adding the US was ready to assist.
Venezuela’s exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado also shared a message of solidarity.
“My heart, my infinite embrace, and my prayers are with every Venezuelan home in these hours of anguish,” she wrote on X. “May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time.”
Despite the widespread destruction, Venezuela’s key oil infrastructure does not appear to have been significantly affected, though officials warned prolonged power outages could impact production.
Emergency crews continue search and rescue operations as the full scale of the disaster becomes clearer.
with AP and Reuters
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