Caracas, Venezuela – Two earthquakes have struck Venezuela in quick succession on Wednesday, causing catastrophic damage to cities from La Guaira to the capital Caracas.As of Thursday, at least 188 deaths have been recorded, and thousands more have been reported injured.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe twin earthquakes measured at the upper end of the Richter scale, reaching magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, respectively, on the nine-point metric. Buildings collapsed as the ground rippled, leaving people trapped in the rubble.Following the earthquake, several residents in the Caracas metropolitan area recounted their experiences, confronting the shock.“I was at home, and the house began shaking violently. At first, I thought it was the wind coming through the windows, but when I looked outside and saw that it was shaking too, I grabbed onto the doorway and started to pray,” said 52-year-old Maria Gonzalez.Gonzalez lives in the Chacao municipality, on the outskirts of Caracas — one of the most seismically active areas in the state of Miranda. She reported that several items in her home fell.Although her building sustained no damage, she chose to stay in Plaza Altamira, an open area in the centre of town, while waiting for things to return to normal. More than 10 aftershocks occurred following the initial seismic activity.“I stayed out on the street until three in the morning because I would leave my home whenever afters …
