Thousands Feared Dead After Venezuela’s Strongest Earthquake in Over 125 Years

Thousands of Venezuelans They fear they will die after two major earthquakes hit the country within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening.

People to hear The ground is shaking in the north of the country, including the capital of Caracas, when the earthquakes hit outside the town of Yumare in the northwest at 6pm local time. The second shock, with a magnitude of 7.5, was the largest to occur in the country since 1900.

164 people have been confirmed dead so far and more than 971 injured, according to President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in after the US ousted former president Nicolás Maduro in January.

The United States Geological Survey has warned of the final death he can more than 10,000,

modeled after previous earthquakes. More than 10,000 people in the country say their families have disappeared on a website dedicated to those in need.

Rodríguez declared the state of emergency in a televised address Wednesday night. “The first message to our people is to be united to save lives,” he said, asking all doctors, nurses, and health workers to go to their workplaces to help the injured. “Then we’ll discuss what needs to be done in terms of restoring infrastructure, restoring things.”

Some Venezuelans slept on the streets overnight, fearing the aftershocks. Rodríguez asked residents of damaged buildings to evacuate their homes when the buildings collapsed during and after the earthquakes. The country’s largest airport in Maiquetia has been closed due to extensive damage.

Secretary of State of the United States Marco Rubio he said Thursday morning for the US government to send search and rescue teams, medical equipment, and humanitarian aid to Venezuela, President Donald Trump True Social post. “We will be there for our new and better friends,” Trump wrote.

More to follow…