Reuters. Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez appealed for unity on state television early on Thursday (June 25), expressing condolences to families who had lost loved ones after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 32 people and injured 700 more in and around the capital Caracas.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS, using predictive modelling to estimate the death toll, said it would most likely run into the thousands, with a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.
"There are dozens of collapsed buildings, and we are at this moment working very hard in rescue operations to save the lives that God permits us to save," Rodriguez said in an appearance on state television just before 1 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Thursday.
"I also want to say that this is a true tragedy. From here, we send our message of solidarity, and to those families who have lost loved ones, we reaffirm our condolences and our support in these difficult hours.”
