- The death toll from a pair of powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, in Venezuela has climbed to 188 as over 200 people remain trapped under collapsed buildings.
- The tremors, among the strongest in Venezuela for over a century, caused widespread damage Wednesday night, particularly in the coastal region of La Guaira north of Caracas, injuring approximately 1,500 people and leaving thousands missing.
- The impact was felt across the region, with buildings evacuated as far as Brazil’s Amazon, and Caracas’s main airport sustaining damage and subsequently closing.
- Rescue teams are searching for survivors amidst the rubble, with residents also participating in the search for missing loved ones. The US Geological Survey estimated a 44 per cent chance of fatalities exceeding 10,000.
- The natural disaster presents a significant challenge for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office in January, given Venezuela's ongoing economic difficulties and existing political tensions.
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