Double earthquakes ravage Venezuela: At least 164 dead, buildings collapse

Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, struck Venezuela's northern coast within a minute around 6 PM local time on January 3, causing severe damage in the capital Caracas and coastal towns.

In Caracas, panicked residents fled violently shaking buildings. Sebastian Rodríguez, 18, from the Los Palos Grandes neighborhood, recounted: "It was terrifying. I felt like the house was moving at a different rhythm from the ground. I had to carry my mother outside; she was paralyzed with fear."

At least three buildings in Los Palos Grandes and nearby Altamira completely collapsed. Rescue workers, volunteers, and relatives rushed to the sites overnight, hoping to find survivors in the rubble.

Dr. Jessica Galvis, 33, an intensive care physician, waited tearfully outside a collapsed six-story building: "There is so much debris." She believed a female friend was buried inside.

José Morillo, 61, sped across the city on his motorcycle to reach a building where relatives were trapped: "My brother, son, and grandchildren are all inside." A woman from his family was pulled from the rubble and appeared alive.

Altamira and Los Palos Grandes, nestled at the foot of the majestic Ávila mountain, house many of the city's wealthiest residents, with luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, and numerous foreign embassies, including those of the UK, Germany, and Brazil.

However, working-class areas like Catia also suffered severe damage. Physical education teacher José Luis, who lost his home, said: "My walls have fallen down. Water flooded through the roof. The earthquake lasted too long and destroyed everything." Too afraid to re-enter his house, he planned to sleep outside, like many other Caracas residents.

The international airport at the port city of La Guaira, about a 45-minute drive north of Caracas, closed after sustaining significant damage. Social media videos showed panicked passengers scrambling for cover as ceiling panels collapsed, covering them with dust.

Several towers and buildings, including at least one beachfront hotel, collapsed nearby. This coastal area had previously been hit by U.S. airstrikes on January 3, aimed at capturing President Nicolás Maduro. Some buildings in Catia La Mar were heavily damaged when U.S. air-to-ground missiles struck coastal defense systems and radar.

With phone lines down, the fate of many coastal communities remained unclear. The official death toll stood at 164 on the morning of January 4 and was expected to rise. U.S. President Donald Trump warned on social media of a "devastating death toll" and pledged to "stand by our new and wonderful friends."

Social media overflowed with images of missing persons, many from the coastal strip between the airport and Catia La Mar, including an eight-year-old boy named Brayne and a five-year-old girl named Miranda. In one building, at least five members of a single family were missing: Luisa, Ángel, Carmen, Yepxalit, and Andrea.

Amid the tragedy, there were glimmers of hope. Around 1:30 AM, rescue teams successfully freed three siblings buried under a collapsed building in La Guaira. "God, you are great!" a local man shouted as the children were pulled from the concrete, shivering but alive.