rki.news | Sources Anadolu

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela rose to at least 164, with 971 injured, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Thursday, according to Anadolu.

Earlier, she had reported 32 deaths and more than 700 injuries after magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Wednesday evening, warning that the figures could still rise.

The quakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century, with tremors felt across wide areas.

Late Wednesday, a national state of emergency was declared after the earthquakes struck the country’s northern Caribbean coast, causing widespread damage and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.

The US Geological Survey estimated a 42 percent chance that fatalities could range between 10,000 and 100,000.

La Guaira, near Caracas, is the most affected state by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes.

Authorities are prioritizing rescue operations to save people trapped in collapsed buildings and homes, focusing on life-saving efforts, Rodríguez said.

According to latest USGS technical data, northern Venezuela was severely affected by an extraordinary double seismic sequence.

Emergency teams continue search and rescue operations across affected northern regions as authorities assess damage, coordinate relief assistance, and monitor aftershocks, while international partners express solidarity and readiness to support humanitarian response efforts amid ongoing challenges in restoring infrastructure, communications, and essential services for affected communities in Venezuela.