Venezuela reels from earthquakes, as death toll more than doubles

Key Points:

• Two powerful earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction across Caracas and northern coastal states, with at least 589 people dead and nearly 3,000 injured as of Friday.
• Rescue efforts are ongoing amid overwhelmed emergency resources, with firefighters, soldiers, and volunteers working through rubble in heavily affected areas like La Guaira, where numerous buildings have collapsed.
• Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency, urging medical personnel to report for duty while hospitals struggle with rising casualties; the main airport has been closed due to structural damage and schools remain shut.
• International aid is arriving from countries experienced in earthquake response, including Mexico, Chile, El Salvador, and the United States, which is providing rescue teams and aerial imagery to assist search and rescue operations.
• The disaster has highlighted Venezuela's fragile infrastructure and strained public services amid ongoing economic challenges and political tensions, complicating emergency response efforts.