AI Generated Image
Venezuela earthquakes kill at least 188, injure hundreds, with toll likely to rise, officials say
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- At least 188 people were killed and around 1,500 injured in two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude that struck Venezuela, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
- The hardest-hit area was La Guaira state, where numerous buildings collapsed, leading the government to declare a state of emergency and close the main international airport due to severe damage.
- The earthquakes caused widespread panic and damage across Venezuela, including the capital Caracas, where buildings were evacuated, power outages occurred, and aftershocks raised concerns about further destruction.
- The U.S. and several other countries have offered humanitarian aid and deployed disaster assistance teams to support Venezuela's response, while the government urged calm, unity, and mobilized healthcare professionals to assist the injured.
- These earthquakes are among the strongest in Venezuela in over a century, a country where strong seismic activity is rare despite its location near fault lines between the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates.
