Two powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela, killing at least 235

Two successive earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 4,300. A 7.2-magnitude quake was followed seconds later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude temblor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Both quakes occurred at shallow depths—20.3 kilometers and 10 kilometers respectively—amplifying the destruction across Caracas and the coastal city of La Guaira. Rescuers searched through collapsed buildings as survivors called for help from the rubble. The earthquakes struck at 18:04 local time on a Venezuelan national holiday, when more people were at home than would be on a typical weekday. Many more deaths are feared, with thousands left homeless or sleeping in streets due to damaged buildings deemed unsafe for habitation.