News Desk - The death toll from the back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 235, with authorities warning that the number could climb further as thousands remain missing. Health officials said more than 4,300 people have been injured, while rescue teams continue urgent searches in the hardest-hit northern coastal areas.

Two powerful quakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other on Wednesday evening, knocking down buildings, damaging roads and infrastructure, and leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins, particularly in La Guaira and surrounding regions. Officials said the first tremor measured 7.2 and was followed 39 seconds later by a stronger 7.5 quake, described as a rare seismic doublet, with aftershocks adding to the destruction and fear among residents. Hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of injured, and medical teams are working around the clock as firefighters, civil defense units and the military continue clearing debris and searching for survivors.

The humanitarian response has widened as governments and aid agencies prepare support for the disaster zone, where communications and transport remain severely disrupted. Families across the country are still searching for relatives who are unaccounted for, and officials have said the toll could rise as rescue crews reach collapsed buildings and remote communities. The scale of the disaster has deepened concern in a country already facing economic and political strain, making the recovery effort even more difficult.

With thousands reported missing and rescue operations still underway, Venezuela is bracing for more casualties as teams race to find survivors before time runs out. The full extent of the damage may take days to emerge, but the quakes have already become one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the country in years.