Powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, toppling buildings in the capital Caracas, trapping people in the rubble and prompting scientists to warn of potentially heavy casualties and widespread destruction.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit about 160 km west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Below is a glimpse of the widespread destruction.
Header image: Rescue workers search through the rubble of a collapsed building in the Altamira neighbourhood following an earthquake in Caracas on June 24, 2026. — AFP