Quakes rock Venezuela, killing at least 32 and injuring hundreds

Highlights:

• Damage seen in Caracas, scientists warn of widespread destruction
• USGS says 44% chance of 10,000-100,000 fatalities
• Residents flee into the streets as buildings shake, some collapse
• Tsunami threat issued but quickly withdrawn
• Trump offers US assistance

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela yesterday (24 June), killing at least 32 people and injuring 700 more as buildings collapsed in and around the capital Caracas, interim President Delcy Rodriguez said.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit about 160km (100 miles) west of Caracas, followed less ​than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS, using predictive modelling to estimate the death toll, said it would most likely run into the thousands, with a ‌substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.

Rodriguez said initial figures do not include casualties from La Guaira state, near Caracas and home to the city's airport, which is the worst affected.

"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 just before 1am local time (0500 GMT) on Thursday.

"I also want to say that this is a true tragedy. From here, we send our message of solidarity, and to those families who have lost loved ones, we ​reaffirm our condolences and our support in these difficult hours."

The country is focused on rescue efforts, including the arrival in the coming hours of rescue crews from other countries, she said, as she thanked leaders including US President ​Donald Trump.

Trump said in a post on social media the US was ready, willing and able to help in the disaster.

"The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela ⁠are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths," said Trump, who ordered the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a violent raid in January.

Three people were killed in the Baruta district in Caracas after two buildings collapsed, ​the district mayor said on social media.

One person was killed, and four buildings had completely collapsed, Gustavo Duque, the mayor of Chacao district in the capital, told journalists.

"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.

Video footage showed emergency workers climbing through the ruins of a collapsed building in the capital as night fell, while distraught relatives sought help for loved ones believed to be trapped.

"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."

Residents rush into the streets

A tsunami warning was issued but swiftly cancelled after the danger passed.

Many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes struck during a public holiday.

"There was a very loud crash. ​Things fell in the house, jugs inside the refrigerator. I've never experienced anything like it," said Coro Martinez, 56, who lives in eastern Caracas.

Residents across Caracas, which was also hit by a deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 1967, rushed to evacuate as buildings shook.

"As soon as ‌it started, we ⁠began hearing people screaming," said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicist in western Caracas. "Everyone was running down the stairs."

Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner in southern Caracas, said police helped her get out of her home.

"This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967," she said.

Another resident, a 41-year-old office worker who declined to be named, said she received an earthquake alert on her phone just before the shaking intensified.

"As I picked it up and started listening to what it was saying, I first felt light shaking. Then, in less than two seconds, everything started moving."

Leaders from countries including El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Brazil offered support and sympathy, while the US State Department said it was in touch with Venezuelan authorities and mobilising assistance.

Rodriguez, who has been running the ​country since the US ouster of Maduro, said she has ​instructed the foreign ministry to coordinate the aid offers.

The ⁠US embassy in Caracas said it was closely monitoring the aftermath of the quake and urged citizens in the country to seek secure shelter.

Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate.

An estimated 30,000 people were killed when a powerful quake caused widespread destruction in the cities of Merida and Caracas in 1812, according to the USGS.

Hospitals brace for the injured

At Caracas' Hospital de Clinicas, staff were asked to double up on the night shift to help treat the injured, a worker there said.

Venezuela's largest airport, in ​Maiquetia on the coast north of ⁠Caracas, was closed due to damages, Rodriguez said.

Classes were cancelled for the rest of the week as authorities began to take stock of the damage.

Venezuela's oil infrastructure did not immediately appear to be affected by the tremors. Civil protection authorities in Maracaibo, near the large oil hub of Lake Maracaibo, said there were no injuries reported and a worker at the El Palito refinery near Morón - the epicentre of the earthquake - said there had been no damage there.

UK oil firm Shell, which is evaluating developing gas fields in Venezuela, said all ⁠its employees in ​the country are accounted for with no injuries.

One source noted that extended loss of power could hit crude output levels until the service is restored.

​Venezuela's oil ministry, state-run oil company PDVSA and its main foreign partner, Chevron, did not immediately reply to requests for comment.