‘Truly terrifying’: Caracas confronts the aftermath of Venezuela earthquake

Devastated residents recall the moment when they experienced the twin earthquakes that toppled buildings and killed at least 188.Two earthquakes have struck Venezuela in quick succession on Wednesday, causing catastrophic damage to cities from La Guaira to the capital Caracas.As of Thursday, at least 188 deaths have been recorded, and thousands more have been reported injured.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘We hugged each other and ran’: Venezuelans recount Earthquake horrorlist 2 of 3World reacts as devastating Venezuela earthquakes kill at least 188list 3 of 3Venezuela earthquakes: How will Sanctions impact aid operations?end of listThe twin earthquakes measured at the upper end of the Richter scale, reaching magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, respectively, on the nine-point metric. Buildings collapsed as the ground rippled, leaving people trapped in the rubble.Following the Earthquake, several residents in the Caracas metropolitan area recounted their experiences, confronting the shock.“I was at home, and the house began shaking violently. At first, I thought it was the wind coming through the windows, but when I looked outside and saw that it was shaking too, I grabbed onto the doorway and started to pray,” said 52-year-old Maria Gonzalez.Gonzalez lives in the Chacao municipality, on the outskirts of Caracas — one of the most seismically active areas in the state of Miranda. She reported that several items in her home fell.Although her building sustained no damage, she chose to stay in Plaza Altamira, an open area in the centre of town, while waiting for things to return to normal. More than 10 aftershocks occurred following the initial seismic activity.“I stayed out on the street until three in the morning because I would leave my home whenever aftershocks hit. People were having nervous breakdowns and crying,” Gonzalez explained.Buildings in Caracas collapsed on the evening of June 24, after a pair of major earthquakes rattled Venezuela [Julio Blanca/Al Jazeera]Sixty-year-old Alejandro San Cristobal experienced the Earthquake while walking along Sucre Street in Chacao. In a moment of panic, he tried to distance himself from surrounding buildings. “I threw myself into the middle of the street,” he said.