On June 24th, Venezuela was struck by a catastrophic seismic doublet. Two major earthquakes, each over magnitude 7, hit just 39 seconds apart. This rare phenomenon dramatically amplifies destruction.
The death toll is approaching one thousand, with more than 50,000 people missing. The devastation has leveled high-rise apartment blocks, warehouses, and countless other structures.
International aid is arriving, but the search for survivors is critical amid widespread looting. Desperate victims are even using social media to broadcast their locations to rescue teams.
Satellite images provide a stark view of the tragedy. Avenues of buildings in cities like La Guaira and Caraballeda are now piles of rubble, confirming the immense scale of the disaster.