Twin Earthquakes in 39 Seconds Devastate Venezuela's Major Cities

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake followed within seconds by a 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday, collapsing dozens of buildings in Caracas and La Guaira. The rapid succession prevented evacuations after the first shock, trapping occupants. Rescuers pulled survivors—including three young siblings—from rubble by hand, signaling that heavy equipment hadn't yet reached most sites. Venezuela's authorities declared a state of emergency.