Venezuela Twin Earthquakes Kill Unknown Toll; USGS Warns 44% Chance Dead Exceed 10,000

Two powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela in rapid succession on Wednesday evening — a M7.2 foreshock followed approximately 39 seconds later by a M7.5 mainshock — collapsing buildings in the capital Caracas, knocking out power across portions of the city, and triggering tsunami advisories across the Caribbean. Venezuela's acting president Delsy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency. The U.S. Geological Survey assessed that heavy casualties and extensive damage are probable, citing a 44% probability that the death toll will exceed 10,000. The closely spaced double-rupture geometry is consistent with a cascading fault sequence that maximizes structural damage. Reports from multiple international outlets confirm building collapses and mass street evacuation across the capital.