Patricia Laya

The death toll is rising in Venezuela after back-to-back earthquakes struck west of the capital on Wednesday, toppling buildings and severely damaging the country’s main international airport.

Screams and groans echoed from beneath piles of concrete and bricks during the early morning hours on Thursday as residents searched for survivors in the coastal city of Catia La Mar, where rescue teams had yet to reach several collapsed buildings nearly 10 hours after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela.

The death toll from twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela rose to 235 with thousands more injured, as rescue teams desperately cleared away rubble to reach trapped victims.

The death toll from twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela rose to at least 589 with nearly 3,000 more injured, as rescue teams desperately clear away

With official updates restricted, people have started using WhatsApp groups to track missing people and to verify information after twin quakes.

Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella said his incoming administration will seek to refinance the nation’s debt to extend maturities and lower borrowing costs.

El presidente electo de Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, señaló que su próximo gobierno buscará refinanciar la deuda pública del país para extender los plazos de vencimiento y reducir los costos.

Excavators and cranes ground to a halt at some rescue sites in Venezuela as fuel shortages hampered recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake, leaving crews unable to clear debris in some of the hardest-hit areas of La Guaira state.

Escavadeiras e guindastes pararam de operar em alguns locais de resgate na Venezuela porque a escassez de combustível prejudicou os esforços de recuperação após o terremoto da semana passada, deixando equipes incapazes de remover escombros em algumas das áreas mais atingidas do estado de La Guaira.

Las excavadoras y las grúas permanecen detenidas en algunos puntos de rescate en Venezuela debido a la escasez de combustible, que ha obstaculizado las labores de recuperación tras los terremotos de la semana pasada e impedido a los equipos retirar los escombros en algunas de las zonas más afectadas del estado de La Guaira.