Venezuela was shaken by two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday evening, causing major damage in the capital city of Caracas and several other regions of the country. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude. Just 39 seconds later, a second and even stronger earthquake, measuring 7.5, struck the same region. The earthquakes happened at around 6:04 pm local time. The epicentre of the second quake was located west of Caracas near the town of Yumare and about 10 kilometres underground. The strong shaking caused panic across Venezuela. People rushed out of homes, offices, and shops and gathered in the streets. Videos shared on social media showed buildings shaking, furniture falling, and people running for safety. Several buildings in Caracas were badly damaged, and some collapsed completely. Emergency workers, firefighters, and police officers quickly arrived at the damaged areas to search for survivors trapped under the rubble. The mayor of the Chacao district in Caracas said that at least two buildings had completely collapsed. More than 500 emergency workers were taking part in rescue operations. Officials also set up emergency centres where families could gather and receive information about missing relatives. The Venezuelan government warned residents to stay outside damaged buildings because of the risk of further collapses and gas leaks. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that gas supplies to several buildings had been cut off as a safety measure. The earthquakes were felt in many parts of Venezuela, including the states of Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, and La Guaira. The shaking was also felt in neighbouring Colombia, including the capital city of Bogotá. Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of people killed or injured. However, the USGS warned that the disaster could be severe. The agency said there is a significant chance that the death toll could be very high and that extensive damage is likely. Rescue workers continued searching through the night. Pictures from Caracas showed damaged apartment blocks, piles of concrete and broken glass covering the streets, and injured people being carried away by emergency teams. Many residents described the earthquake as the strongest they had ever experienced. One Caracas resident said that dishes and household items fell everywhere inside his home. Another witness said cracks appeared in the walls of his building and that he had never seen anything like it before. Journalist Nicole Kolster, who was inside an apartment building during the quake, said she thought the building was going to collapse. She hid beside a strong wall until neighbours told everyone to evacuate. The timing of the disaster made the situation even more difficult. June 24 is a national holiday in Venezuela, celebrating the Battle of Carabobo, an important event in the country's fight for independence. Because it was a holiday, many more people than usual were at home when the earthquakes struck. This is not the first time Caracas has experienced a deadly earthquake. In 1967, a major earthquake killed more than 200 people and caused serious damage to many buildings. Some of the same neighbourhoods affected in 1967 were again hit by this latest disaster. International organisations and foreign governments are closely watching the situation. The US Embassy in Caracas urged people to avoid damaged areas and stay away from unsafe buildings. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado also expressed support for the victims, saying her thoughts and prayers were with all Venezuelan families affected by the disaster. Experts warn that aftershocks could continue in the coming days. These smaller earthquakes can still cause additional damage, especially to buildings that have already been weakened. As rescue efforts continue, thousands of people remain outside their homes, afraid to return indoors. Emergency crews are working tirelessly to find survivors and help those who have lost homes or loved ones. The full scale of the disaster is still unknown, but Venezuela is facing one of its strongest earthquakes in decades. The coming days will reveal the true extent of the damage and the human cost of this tragic event.