Venezuela earthquake death toll rises above 900 as rescue efforts continue

Rescue crews and volunteers in Venezuela are still searching for survivors after twin earthquakes devastated parts of the country, with officials saying the death toll has climbed to 920 and 172 people remain trapped. Thousands have been injured or reported missing, and the hardesthit areas include Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira. Residents in damaged neighborhoods have been digging through rubble by hand as heavy equipment arrives slowly. Witnesses described widespread destruction, blocked roads and limited official presence in some areas, while foreign rescue teams and aid workers began reaching affected communities later in the week. The quakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, caused an estimated $6.7 billion in direct damage, according to a U.N. report. Officials said Venezuela’s oil sector was not significantly affected, even as the disaster put further strain on a country already facing years of economic and political instability.