Venezuela quake toll tops 900, search intensifies for hundreds trapped

Rescue efforts intensified in Venezuela after twin earthquakes pushed the death toll above 900, with foreign crews and aid beginning to reach hardest-hit areas nearly two days after the quakes. The government reported 172 people still trapped, 920 dead and 3,360 injured following the Wednesday evening disaster that struck parts of Caracas and surrounding areas, while reporting more than 50,000 missing. By Friday afternoon, a weaker 4.9 tremor was felt in Caracas and nearby Maracay, adding to frustration over uneven relief progress in states such as La Guaira, where residents and volunteers continued removing rubble by hand due to shortages of heavy equipment. Reuters reported issues including delays, crowded conditions, and limited official presence, with some authorities later urging people to stay away from La Guaira city as roads closed at 8 p.m. (midnight GMT) except for official response teams. The UN estimated direct damage from the 7.2 and 7.5 quakes at about $6.7 billion, and the second quake was Venezuela’s most powerful in more than a century.