World
Venezuela earthquake reduces buildings to rubble in horrific scenes filmed by man searching for his mother
Horrifying video from the streets of El Junquito, Venezuela shows buildings crumbling like matchsticks into clouds of choking, brown smoke after a pair of violent earthquakes devastated the country.
A chorus of screams and thunderous crashes of destruction hauntingly echo in the background of the footage, which looks like something straight out of a big-budget disaster movie.
Frightened families can be seen fleeing for their lives in the streets, many of them holding children’s hands and crying.
Erick Monasterios filmed himself navigating the chaotic scene as he frantically searched for his mother.
Car alarms blare as he turns his camera on piles of rubble, throngs of people huddled together in terror, and rows of motorcycles tipped on their side.
El Junquito, with a population of around 70,000, is about 12 miles outside Caracas.
The twin 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes have so far killed at least 164 people, Venezuelan authorities said, with hundreds more reported missing as rescue crews desperately search for survivors.
The first quake struck roughly 100 miles west of Caracas, followed just 39 seconds later by an even bigger 7.5-magnitude tremblor, according to the US Geological Survey, which warned the death toll could climb to at least 10,000 and potentially more than 100,000.
The quakes were the strongest to hit the region in over a century.
President Trump took to Truth Social early Thursday pledging help to the quake-ravaged country.
“The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. WE will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!!” he wrote.
