Death Toll From Venezuela Quakes Jumps To 164, Nearly 1,000 Injured — President

The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes has risen to at least 164, while 971 people have been injured, according to interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez also said around 30 aftershocks have been recorded since the two powerful earthquakes struck on Wednesday.

Authorities had initially reported 32 deaths and more than 700 injuries.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck the same area of Venezuela, causing widespread destruction. Buildings collapsed in the capital, Caracas, and the country’s main airport was temporarily closed.

United States President Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the victims and pledged American support.

He said the two earthquakes were massive in scale and had caused a devastating number of deaths, adding that the United States was ready to assist. Trump also stated that he had instructed all relevant government agencies to prepare to respond quickly.

An AFP journalist at the scene reported that a 22-storey building in Caracas’ Altamira neighbourhood was completely destroyed. Volunteers searched through the rubble while relatives called out the names of missing loved ones.

According to the USGS, the first earthquake occurred at 22:04 GMT with its epicentre located 21 kilometres (13 miles) west of the coastal town of Morón. Less than a minute later, a second earthquake measuring magnitude 7.5 struck approximately 45 kilometres away.

The USGS explained that the second earthquake was the main event in a doublet sequence and was preceded by a magnitude 7.2 foreshock just 39 seconds earlier.