Rescue teams in Venezuela are searching for hundreds of people missing under rubble one day after two powerful earthquakes struck the country [1, 2].

The disaster has caused widespread devastation in Caracas and nearby northern cities, where collapsed buildings have trapped residents and overwhelmed emergency services [1, 5].

Authorities said the two earthquakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude [3]. The seismic activity triggered the collapse of numerous structures, leaving hundreds of people missing [1, 2].

Casualty reports vary across official and media sources. The Venezuelan Ministry of Health said 235 people died and 4,300 were injured [4]. Other reports provided lower figures, with some sources stating at least 164 deaths [1, 5] and others citing 188 deaths [3].

Initial reports on injuries were lower, with some sources listing more than 1,500 wounded [5], but the Ministry of Health later increased that figure to 4,300 [4].

Rescue workers continue to dig through debris in the capital and surrounding urban areas. Families have gathered at makeshift aid stations while waiting for news of missing relatives [1, 2].

"Las autoridades dijeron que los terremotos de magnitud 7,2 y 7,5 dejaron al menos 164 muertos y cientos de desaparecidos," Venezuelan authorities said [1].

The Venezuelan Minister of Health said 235 people died and 4,300 were injured from the tremors [4].

“Hundreds of people remain missing under the rubble after two powerful earthquakes”

The discrepancy in casualty figures, ranging from 164 to 235 deaths, suggests a chaotic early recovery phase where official counts are still being reconciled. The scale of the injuries, potentially reaching 4,300 people, will likely place an immense strain on Venezuela's healthcare infrastructure, which has faced long-term systemic challenges.