Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds more injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday evening, triggering widespread destruction and prompting an extensive emergency response.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said in a televised address that rescue teams were working through the night to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

The first earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.2, was followed just seconds later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor, sending powerful shockwaves across the country.

The twin earthquakes caused significant damage in the capital, Caracas, where buildings were damaged and residents fled into the streets in panic as the ground shook.

Emergency responders launched large-scale search-and-rescue operations shortly after the quakes, focusing on areas where people are believed to be trapped under debris.

Rodríguez said authorities had mobilized intensive rescue efforts and emergency resources to assist affected communities as crews continued searching through the rubble into Thursday morning.

The government has declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster, with Rodríguez describing the coastal state of La Guaira as a “disaster zone” because of the scale of the destruction.

Rescue personnel, firefighters and medical teams remain deployed across the affected areas as officials assess the full extent of the damage and continue efforts to reach those still missing.

Authorities have not yet released a final casualty count, warning that the number of deaths and injuries could rise as search operations continue.

The earthquakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in recent years and have caused widespread concern over the condition of buildings and critical infrastructure in the affected regions.

Officials are urging residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks while emergency services continue relief and recovery operations.