Venezuelans have described the horrific moment that two powerful earthquakes struck in 39 seconds in Caracas, leaving at least 164 people dead and over 10,000 missing.
Witnesses recalled how the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes – the most powerful seen in the country in over a century – caused buildings to collapse and sent panicked residents pouring into the streets.
President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes left people trapped under rubble and forced the closure of the country’s main international airport.
The death toll is expected to rise with the US Geological Survey reporting a 44 per cent chance that fatalities could exceed 10,000.
Rescue teams were racing to find survivors on Thursday morning, with videos showing families walking among the debris in search of loved ones.
One Caracas resident describing the earthquake as a “roar coming from the ground”.
Amparo Diaz told CNN that the tremors had rattled her apartment building. “The walls were moving and I felt as if I were in water.”
Another witness, Hector Ricci, told AP: “It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together.”
Maria Alejandra told Reuters that the incident was “like a horror movie”, adding: “We had to climb over the rubble and everything.”
The USGS said that the powerful double-shock was a “doublet”, which refers to when a pair of earthquakes happen within a short time and distance from each other.
Usually, a larger earthquake is followed by significantly smaller aftershocks – but doublets are earthquakes of similar magnitude that are causally linked, but seismologically distinct.
Jesus Alejandro Pina, a 38-year-old engineer in Caracas, said he was on the top floor of a seven-storey building when the earthquakes struck.
“It was very, very strong,” he told Al Jazeera. “I don’t know exactly how long it lasted, but it felt like about a minute.”
“Glasses were breaking, pictures were falling, the television too. Everything was falling. The lamps, anything made of glass, even the columns and beams were making noise.”
Meanwhile, Ruiz Garcia who checked on his grandmother told the outlet: “It looked like one of those images from a country at war. You could hear people screaming for help so they could get out.”
The International Federation of the Red Cross said that its headquarters had sustained “critical damage” as it led rescue operations to find survivors.
“While assessments continue, the most urgent anticipated needs are search and rescue, emergency shelter for families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and emergency health care, including trauma care and psychosocial support,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
“Safe water and sanitation and essential household items are also expected to be priorities in the hours and days ahead.”
Spain and China have vowed to support the country with aide, while President Donald Trump also offered to help his “great friends” in Venezuela.
On Thursday the European Union activated its Copernicus satellite programme to help with recovery efforts by providing data that helps to identify risks and prevent loss of lives and damage.
