What we know about Venezuela’s biggest earthquake in more than a century

(CNN) — Rescuers are desperately searching through piles of rubble in Venezuela after the country was rocked by two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday, leaving scores of people dead and widespread destruction in a country already beset by economic and political turmoil.

At least 235 people have died, 4,300 more have been injured and many remain missing in the largest earthquake event to hit the country in more than a century. The true extent of the toll is still feared to be much higher as crews dig through twisted debris and survivors are left on the street with nowhere to go.

This comes at a dire time for Venezuela, which is being led by an interim government after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, and facing an economy crippled by years of hyperinflation.

Here’s what we know so far:

What happened?

A magnitude 7.2 foreshock took place near San Felipe, the capital city of Yaracuy state, just after 6:04 p.m. ET.

Just 40 seconds later, it was followed by a larger 7.5 magnitude quake, some 23 kilometers (about 14 miles) southeast of Yumare, a town also in Yaracuy state.

It was what the US Geological Survey calls a “doublet” – a rare phenomenon that contained not one but two major earthquakes of similar destructive energy.

Wednesday was a public holiday, meaning many people may have been home or at public events.

The quake was felt in states across the country, as well as in neighboring Colombia, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.

Videos seen and geolocated by CNN showed some buildings collapsing in seconds, or terrified residents evacuating buildings with their loved ones and pets before gathering on the street. One resident in the capital Caracas who escaped from a damaged building said “the scene was like a horror movie.”

Another Caracas resident, Martha Añez, described seeing no way out of her apartment and finally being rescued after she screamed from her balcony: “We’re trapped! We need help! Please, someone come!”

What’s the situation on the ground?

The death toll is expected to keep rising, with 157 people missing as of Thursday afternoon and more than 200 trapped beneath rubble. Rescuers are racing to find survivors, with the first 48 to 72 hours after a quake widely regarded as the “golden” window to reach people buried alive.

Some 250 buildings have collapsed or endured damage, with the coastal state of La Guaira hardest hit and now declared a disaster zone, said acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who stepped into the role after Maduro’s capture.

Multiple videos geolocated by CNN show extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure across Venezuela. In La Guaira, a large waterfront hotel in the city of Macuto was reduced to rubble, while in the town of Catia La Mar, videos show several collapsed buildings and badly damaged high-rises.

Experts say buildings in Venezuela are more likely to collapse than structures in other quake-prone places like Japan or California that have stronger building codes – one possible factor behind the high death toll.

Other images showed overwhelmed hospitals, with improvised wards in hallways and even on the street due to the large number of wounded – reflecting Venezuela’s long-suffering health system, which has faced years of deterioration and lack of investment.

Thousands of Caracas residents slept outdoors or in their cars overnight, fearful of the aftershocks that kept hitting the city even after the major quakes had subsided.

Some people are unable to access their homes because of the surrounding damage, while others had to be evacuated because their homes were directly impacted, said Halima Husein, the medical coordinator in Venezuela for Médecins Sans Frontières (also known as Doctors Without Borders).

For the communities affected, uncertainty presides: “They have their backpacks and they cannot move,” Husein told CNN.

Many are still unaware of their loved ones’ fate. In the Los Palos Grandes area in eastern Caracas, anguished people pleaded with authorities Thursday for news about relatives whose buildings collapsed.

Disruptions to internet connectivity, thanks to damaged power and telecoms infrastructure, may hinder rescue efforts and the flow of information from affected areas in the coming days.

What’s the response?

Venezuela declared a state of emergency, with a high-level task force created to oversee search and rescue operations, and an initial $200 million fund to rebuild the country, Rodriguez said Wednesday night.

Simon Bolivar Airport near Caracas has temporarily closed after suffering damage, she added. School classes will be suspended nationwide for a week, and rail services and non-essential activities have also been temporarily canceled. Nationwide prayers for all religions will be held at 7 p.m local time, she said.

Local councils are also setting up shelters in schools and baseball stadiums, while aid organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières are coordinating with local hospitals and donating trauma emergency kits.

Meanwhile, countries around the world are coordinating with Venezuela to send assistance as soon as possible.

The US is deploying elite rescue teams, medical resources, humanitarian assistance, and equipment such as aircraft to assess damage after President Donald Trump voiced his support. The State Department announced that the US will provide $150 million in aid.

There are further teams being sent from the Dominican Republic, France, El Salvador, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Qatar. Other countries have offered humanitarian aid, including China, Brazil, and some Caribbean nations.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon, Avery Schmitz, Thomas Bordeaux, Ivonne Valdes and Camille Rodriguez contributed to this report.