More than 7,000 people remain missing in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country, with 32 bodies recovered from debris in Caracas, and other cities and villages.
Opposition leaders, many of whom are currently in exile, have released a list of the missing through a dedicated website, a link to which was shared on the social media platform X.
According to Reuters, around 2:45 am Caracas time, the website had listed 7,381 individuals as missing or yet to be located.
Reuters noted, however, that it has been unable to independently verify these figures.
In addition to the fatalities, at least 700 people have been rescued with injuries.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck near San Felipe, about 284 kilometres west of Caracas, at 10:04 pm local time on Wednesday.
This was followed almost immediately by a second 7.5-magnitude tremor near Yumare, located about 293 kilometres west of the capital.
While official authorities have yet to release immediate data on casualties or the extent of the destruction, USGS has warned that death toll could eventually exceed 10,000 due to the potential for widespread loss of life and significant damage.
