Rescuers worked through the night to save hundreds of Venezuelans trapped in rubble and find thousands more missing after two of the biggest earthquakes in Latin America’s modern history smashed areas in and around the capital Caracas.

Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela

The government said 235 dead had been taken to medical centers but did not give a total casualty estimate from the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors that struck about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas on Wednesday.

A website created to track missing people and shared by opposition leaders from the politically polarized nation listed 49,500 people as unaccounted for, while the U.S. Geological Survey predicted more than 10,000 deaths.

Spain’s foreign ministry confirmed that two of its nationals had died with another 80 unaccounted for.

With foreign rescue teams arriving, firefighters, soldiers and distraught citizens combed through shattered buildings, some using bare hands and torches in places where power was down.

International Response

Nations around the world pledged support, even some that have opposed Venezuela during decades of international isolation, political repression and economic deterioration under the ruling Socialist Party.

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who took over when the U.S. seized her ally and former leader Nicolas Maduro in January, thanked both U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin for their efforts.

Washington eased sanctions to allow earthquake aid that would otherwise be prohibited.

President Donald Trump said the U.S. was “ready, willing and able to help.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would send rescue teams while the Pentagon would help with logistics and support Caracas’ damaged airport.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.