Urgent search and rescue efforts are underway for survivors of two powerful earthquakes in northern Venezuela that buckled and pancaked buildings and homes throughout the region on Wednesday evening, leaving an untold number dead and missing.
Photos taken from the scene show people desperately searching and digging through the rubble for potential survivors after the twin quakes struck back-to-back around 6 p.m., with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, respectively.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed 164 deaths and 971 injuries early Thursday. The U.S. Geological Survey has meanwhile estimated that the death toll could range from as many as 10,000 to 100,000.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday that the U.S. has deployed search and rescue teams to the area and that long-term aid to the Caribbean country will “be big, it’ll be fast, and it’ll be effective.”
See photos of the aftermath here:
