Widespread destruction in Venezuela due to earthquake, buildings reduced to rubble, fear of over 10,000 deaths

Caracas: Dozens of buildings have collapsed in various cities, including Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and there are fears that a large number of people may be trapped under the rubble.
A series of powerful earthquakes have caused widespread destruction in Venezuela, with fears of thousands of deaths. According to the US Geological Survey, the first earthquake in Venezuela was 7.1 in magnitude, followed by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake a few minutes later, which occurred at 6 pm local time, causing buildings to shake.
Reports indicate that dozens of buildings have collapsed in various cities, including Caracas, and there are fears that a large number of people may be trapped under the rubble. Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, declared the earthquake a national disaster, stating that several buildings have been destroyed. The earthquake caused significant damage to Caracas' main Maiquetia airport, with 32 deaths and over 700 injuries confirmed so far.
Large-scale relief efforts have been launched following the government's declaration of a state of emergency. Additionally, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 was reported in northern California, USA, with over 1 million people put on alert. The US Geological Survey has warned of potential deaths ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 in Venezuela. US President Donald Trump stated that initial reports from Venezuela are not good, with a large number of deaths, and has directed US agencies to provide immediate assistance.
Rodriguez said in a national address on Thursday that "so far, we have reports of 164 deaths and over 971 injured." He added that there is still no complete information about the province of "La Guaira" near the capital, which he said was the most affected.
The US Geological Survey reported that two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, followed by 30 aftershocks. The US Geological Survey described it as a "doublet earthquake". The agency corrected its initial estimate of 7.1 magnitude to 7.2.
Data from the US Geological Survey also showed that the earthquakes, which caused buildings to collapse in Caracas and were felt in neighboring Colombia, occurred within a minute of each other at two different locations, about 45 kilometers apart, with different depths. Residents of Caracas rushed out of buildings after the earthquake, with one eyewitness reporting that his apartment had cracks and the entrance glass shattered.
The US Geological Survey indicated that the likelihood of loss of life from the Venezuelan earthquakes is "high".
Immediately after the earthquakes, President Rodriguez declared a state of emergency in the country. In a televised address on Wednesday night, he said that several buildings had collapsed in Caracas due to the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes and the subsequent 30 aftershocks, and that the "Maiquetia" international airport, which serves the capital, had been closed due to "severe damage" to its infrastructure.
The US tsunami warning system issued a warning of potential sea waves in Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands after the earthquake. The US agency warned that islands near the coast of Venezuela could be affected by dangerous waves.
Meanwhile, Japan's meteorological agency announced that a 6.9 magnitude earthquake had struck the northern part of the country, but no tsunami warning was issued. The earthquake occurred near the "Iwate" region in northern Japan, with its epicenter about 50 kilometers deep.
Japan is one of the countries most prone to earthquakes, due to its location on the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific, where several tectonic plates meet. The country experiences thousands of earthquakes every year, most of which are minor, but its history is marked by devastating earthquakes.
On the other hand, Venezuela is also prone to earthquakes due to its location near the intersection of tectonic plates in the Caribbean region, particularly along the Caribbean Sea fault line, although it is less seismically active than Japan.
According to the US Geological Survey, the first earthquake in Venezuela was 7.1 in magnitude, followed by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake a few minutes later, which occurred at 6 pm local time, causing buildings to shake.
Reports indicate that dozens of buildings have collapsed in various cities, including Caracas, and there are fears that a large number of people may be trapped under the rubble.
Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, declared the earthquake a national disaster, stating that several buildings have been destroyed. The earthquake caused significant damage to Caracas' main Maiquetia airport, with 167 deaths and over 970 injuries confirmed so far.
Large-scale relief efforts have been launched following the government's declaration of a state of emergency.
Additionally, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 was reported in northern California, USA, with over 1 million people put on alert.
The US Geological Survey has warned of potential deaths ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 in Venezuela.
US President Donald Trump stated that initial reports from Venezuela are not good, with a large number of deaths, and has directed US agencies to provide immediate assistance.