Venezuela President Delcy Declares Emergency After Strong Earthquakes

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency after Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday, with authorities confirming fatalities and rescue operations underway across affected areas, according to Media. 

In a televised address on Wednesday (local time), Rodriguez confirmed that lives had been lost in the disaster, extending condolences to those who had "sadly suffered the loss of a family member." She did not specify the number



of casualties.

According to Media, emergency response teams have been deployed to search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings and damaged structures following the earthquakes. 

The Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was hit by two major earthquakes that struck the same area on Wednesday evening, causing buildings to collapse, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It is estimated that the death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000.