A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Caracas on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a more powerful 7.5 aftershock shortly after midnight the next day. The tremors left hundreds of people trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings and caused widespread destruction throughout the city.
Emergency workers worked tirelessly through the night to rescue survivors from mangled structures, while distraught family members desperately searched for loved ones in peril. Some victims were carried away on stretchers as they emerged from the ruins, their conditions left unknown due to the severity of the quake.
A municipal mayor from a coastal town near Caracas reported that at least 8 children had died and multiple homes collapsed nearby. The area has been declared a disaster zone by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who confirmed at least 184 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries as of Thursday morning.
Source: Original report
About the Author
