Venezuela quake footage captures panic as death toll climbs

A local resident in Venezuela filmed the terror in the street as two powerful earthquakes struck and buildings collapsed around him. The video shows him holding up a phone camera and recording himself and his surroundings while structures on the side of the street give way.

Latest reports say at least 164 people have been killed and 971 injured across the country. Authorities warned the toll could rise sharply in the coming hours as search-and-rescue teams continue working through dozens of collapsed buildings.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national emergency and said La Guaira state had been designated a disaster zone. She urged residents to leave damaged buildings immediately because of the risk of collapse, while rescue crews worked in darkness under difficult conditions.

Severe destruction was reported in the capital, Caracas, including the complete collapse of a 22-story building in the Altamira area. The main Simón Bolívar International Airport was fully closed because of heavy damage, metro services were suspended, and gas and electricity supplies were cut off.

The two quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, hit less than a minute apart near the coastal city of Morón. They were the strongest earthquakes recorded in Venezuela since 1900, and several countries have already announced rescue missions.