# Two powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck the Venezuelan capital of Caracas seconds apart, leading to collapsed buildings. Emergency workers are trying to rescue people from collapsed and damaged buildings, while residents have been urged to leave their homes and wait outside due to possible aftershocks. The government has shut off direct gas supplies to certain buildings as a preventative measure, while authorities assess damaged structures. The US Geological Survey says high casualties and extensive damage are probable, with a 44-percent chance of more than ten-thousand fatalities.
Mass casualties feared as back-to-back earthquakes strike Venezuela