Venezuela earthquakes kill at least 32

Two powerful earthquakes have struck Venezuela near the capital Caracas, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said.

The first 7.2-magnitude quake was followed 39 seconds later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), with witnesses reporting tremors in neighbouring Colombia.

Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and appointed a general to oversee the response as rescuers search through rubble for many feared trapped, the BBC reported.

The USGS said: "High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread".

There is a 44% chance of more than 10,000 fatalities and a 30% chance of more than 100,000, the USGS added, with a significant risk of landslides and liquefaction on the ground.

Announcing the death toll in the early hours of Thursday, Rodríguez said she did not yet have on the "hardest-hit region" of La Guaira, located near the capital.

She said rescuers were working to reach survivors, with support being sent from the US, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico and Qatar.

President Donald Trump said he had instructed his government "to get ready to move quickly" in response to the earthquakes.

"The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths," he wrote on Truth Social.

The US "stands ready, willing and able to help!" he added.

The magnitude-7.2 earthquake, initially reported as 7.1, was centred in the state of Yaracuy at a depth of 21.9km at 18:04 local time (23:04 BST) on Wednesday, according to the USGS.

The second earthquake's epicentre was 23km southeast of the town of Yumare and about 10km deep, according to the USGS.

More than 20 aftershocks have been felt since, AFP reported citing the president's office.

Maiquetía airport, Venezuela's main international airport located on the outskirts of Caracas, has been closed due to serious damage, Rodríguez said.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said buildings had been down in Caracas, while videos shared on social media showed some cracked, badly damaged or collapsed.

A tsunami warning was issued for the coast of Venezuela and the islands of Aruba and Bonaire, but was later cancelled.