Caracas, Jun 25: Venezuela was rocked by two powerful earthquakes within seconds of each other, triggering widespread devastation, panic and large-scale rescue operations across several parts of the country.
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Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes struck early Thursday, collapsing buildings, cracking roads and causing power outages in several regions. The tremors were strongly felt in and around the capital city of Caracas, sending residents rushing out of homes and offices in fear.
Emergency workers and volunteers have been searching for survivors in the rubble overnight. Officials have confirmed dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, but fears are growing that the final toll could be much higher given the scale of destruction in the area.
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Hospitals were put on high alert as rescue teams continued their efforts to reach those trapped.
The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and mobilized security forces and disaster response agencies to assist in relief and rescue operations.
Several countries and international organizations have offered support as authorities race against time to locate survivors.
Rescue operations were ongoing at the time of filing this report, with authorities warning that casualty figures could rise as teams gain access to heavily damaged areas.
