Two powerful earthquakes within seconds of each other have left a trail of destruction across northern Venezuela and triggered an enormous search-and-rescue operation, with the country facing one of the worst natural disasters in its modern history.
Two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, shook homes, businesses, hospitals and public buildings across much of the country Wednesday night.
The tremors were felt far beyond the capital with residents in neighbouring regions also reporting intense shaking that sent people rushing into the streets.
Within minutes the emergency services were swamped.
Videos posted online showed flat buildings partially collapsed, roads cracked open and dust clouds filling the air as frightened residents searched for loved ones.
Power was off in several neighbourhoods, making rescue work even more difficult after dark.
Rescue teams began combing through the rubble for survivors and officials quickly declared a state of emergency.
One of the hardest-hit areas has been the coastal state of La Guaira, near Caracas, which is home to the country’s main international airport.
Whole apartment buildings were badly damaged structurally and parts of key highways and public infrastructure were unsafe. Officials also confirmed damage at Simon Bolivar International Airport, adding to the difficulties of relief operations.
Rescue crews worked through the night as hundreds of injured patients poured into hospitals across Caracas and surrounding cities.
Doctors, nurses and emergency medical workers were brought in to bolster hospital staff as ambulance after ambulance arrived carrying people injured in the collapse of homes, apartments and commercial structures.
Health officials cautioned that casualty numbers are still preliminary and are likely to change as rescue operations continue.
Search teams have been working around the clock to find survivors trapped in collapsed buildings, using rescue dogs, thermal imaging equipment, drones and heavy machinery. But in many places, the local people started digging through the rubble themselves before any specialised equipment could get there.
Those images have become, some of the defining images of the catastrophe.
Neighbours formed human chains to hand out broken concrete.
Families waited outside damaged buildings for word of loved ones.
Volunteers brought emergency workers working long hours in difficult conditions drinking water, food, blankets and medical supplies.
International aid has also started to arrive.
Several countries have sent rescue teams, medical personnel, humanitarian aid and emergency supplies to assist Venezuela in the crisis. Authorities are trying to get to the worst affected communities and international organisations have also started coordinating relief efforts.
The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian impact may worsen as rescue operations reach heavily damaged areas.
Thousands of people have been displaced after their homes were damaged or destroyed, with many families looking for temporary shelter, it is reported.
Schools have been closed in affected areas and transport services remain disrupted in many places as engineers inspect bridges, roads and public buildings for structural damage.
Officials have advised residents to stay out of damaged buildings until inspections show whether they are safe.
Buildings already compromised by the earlier quakes may not be stable, especially if there are further aftershocks, say engineers.
Since the big quakes there have been aftershocks shaking parts of the country.
One noticeable aftershock was felt on Friday, reminding residents that it is not yet completely safe. Seismologists say aftershocks are common after earthquakes of this magnitude and can continue for days or even weeks.
But for many survivors, the biggest hurdle has been uncertainty.
Families keep looking for relatives who have not yet been found.
Emergency hotlines are still busy as authorities try to reunite separated family members and verify reports of missing people.
Community centers, schools and temporary shelters have become places where anxious families gather and wait for news, with volunteers providing food, water and emotional support.
Experts say the recovery process will probably continue well beyond the initial rescue phase.
Depending on the scope of the destruction, it could take months or even years to rebuild damaged infrastructure, restore public services and help displaced families.
The earthquakes have also renewed conversations about disaster preparedness and the structural integrity of older infrastructure.
Venezuela is located in an area of seismic activity, but experts say it is impossible to predict when large earthquakes will happen.
Rather, they stress the need for earthquake-resistant construction, emergency preparedness and public education to mitigate the effects of future disasters.
Many of those lessons are now being revisited as engineers begin to gauge the full extent of the damage.
Stories of bravery and compassion have emerged from the affected regions even after destruction.
Healthcare workers have stayed at hospitals despite tough conditions.
Rescue crews and firefighters are still searching the damaged buildings around the clock.
Volunteers from nearby communities have arrived to bring supplies and help families who have been displaced.
Many residents have opened their homes to neighbours who lost everything.
Those acts of kindness have provided me with hope in a very difficult time.
With inspections continuing, government officials are still urging residents to stay alert, follow emergency instructions and stay away from damaged structures.
Authorities have also asked people to rely on official sources for updates and to avoid unverified information being spread on social media. Casualty figures and damage assessments are still evolving as rescue teams reach previously inaccessible areas.
But for now, Venezuela is about saving lives.
“Every hour we’re getting rescues, every hour we’re getting discoveries and, sadly, every hour we’re getting loss.
It may be some time before the full extent of the disaster is known, but one thing is clear already.
So many lives were changed in just seconds by the twin earthquakes.
With rescue work continuing and communities beginning the long road to recovery, millions of people inside and outside Venezuela are watching closely, hoping more survivors can still be found under the rubble and those affected can get the support they need in the difficult days ahead.