Venezuela Earthquakes Leave Hundreds Dead as Rescue Efforts Expand

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Emergency workers, military personnel and volunteers continued rescue operations across northern Venezuela on Friday after two major earthquakes devastated communities near Caracas and along the Caribbean coast, leaving at least 235 people dead and thousands injured. Authorities said the strongest damage occurred in La Guaira state, where apartment buildings, roads and public infrastructure collapsed or suffered severe structural damage. Thousands of residents spent nights outdoors as aftershocks continued and officials assessed the extent of the destruction.

The earthquakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart on the evening of June 24. The tremors were felt across much of northern South America and prompted evacuations in neighboring countries. Venezuela's main international airport sustained damage that forced a temporary shutdown, complicating relief efforts and the delivery of emergency supplies. Search-and-rescue teams have been working through collapsed structures while authorities attempt to locate thousands of people reported missing in some of the hardest-hit communities.