NewzVille Desk
Hundreds of people are believed to remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings as Venezuela has been struck by two powerful earthquakes hit near the capital, Caracas, on Wednesday.
The earthquakes have reportedly claimed at least 235 lives and injured more than 1,500 people. Officials fear the death toll could increase as rescue efforts continue.
Significant structural damage has been reported across the affected areas, but oil establishments remained untouched said the authorities.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck around 160 km west of Caracas on Wednesday evening. Less than a minute later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the same region.
The disaster has also displaced thousands of residents, with emergency response teams continuing search-and-rescue operations and providing relief to those affected.
