At least 164 people have been killed and 971 others injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession on Wednesday evening.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed the role after her predecessor Nicolas Maduro was captured in a United States (US) military operation and taken to America to stand trial, declared a state of emergency late Wednesday and said several states had sustained damage.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the first quake at magnitude 7.2, striking west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, roughly 170 kilometres west of the capital, Caracas.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake followed just one minute later, with its epicentre 16 kilometres southwest of Moron.
La Guaira state, north of Caracas on the coast, was among the hardest hit.
Rodriguez described it as a "disaster zone," citing a large number of collapsed buildings and announcing that rescue teams were being redirected there from other parts of the country.
"Dozens of buildings have collapsed there and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives," she said, adding that officials were working to make the most of daylight hours to reach those believed to still be trapped under rubble.
Television footage showed rescue workers using power tools to cut through debris, with many of those searching for the missing appearing to be ordinary members of the public rather than trained professionals.
Three children were shown being pulled alive from the rubble in La Guaira, covered in dust but breathing.
In Caracas, residents fled swaying buildings as columns of dust rose over two typically busy neighbourhoods.
Parts of the capital lost power and mobile phone coverage, subway services were suspended, natural gas supplies were cut off, and Simon Bolivar International Airport was damaged and closed.
"It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together," said Caracas resident Hector Ricci.
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Another resident, Roberto Gamas, said the building he was in "shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong."
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to remain outdoors as aftershocks posed a continued risk to weakened structures.
Many spent the night on streets, in parked cars, subway stations and other public spaces, some clutching pets as dust settled around them.
Schools were cancelled for several days, with the Ministry of Education designating some school buildings as shelters and donation centres.
Rodriguez announced a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes and appealed to the private sector to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue efforts.
The shockwaves were felt far beyond Venezuela's borders as buildings were evacuated in Manaus, Belem and Macapa in Brazil's Amazon region, approximately 1,700 kilometres from Caracas, according to TV Globo.
Also, the tremors were felt across Colombia's Caribbean and northeast regions with the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issuing several alerts, which were subsequently lifted.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was "immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela."
Rodriguez said she had spoken with Rubio by phone and thanked President Donald Trump.
Qatar, Mexico and El Salvador had already dispatched rescue personnel, she added, while Ecuador ordered the delivery of humanitarian aid.
United Nations-certified search and rescue teams were also said to be en route.
Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, positioned across the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates, however, reports said earthquakes of this magnitude remain relatively rare compared with other parts of Latin America.
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