A pair of catastrophic earthquakes has devastated Venezuela, killing at least 589 people and injuring approximately 3,000 others, according to the Associated Press. Thousands remain unaccounted for as rescue teams race to find survivors buried under rubble in the coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas.
The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes, among the most powerful to hit the nation in over a century, have left countless residents without food or water. In the capital, buildings collapsed, internet and power were lost, and chaos reigns as rescuers navigate the destruction.
On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury waived some sanctions on Venezuela until October, clearing the way for earthquake relief aid. The move arrives just six months after a U.S.-led military operation captured then-president Nicolas Maduro. Acting president Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency and announced the creation of a $200 million fund for recovery.
International aid pledges are pouring in from the U.S. and other nations, but the scale of the disaster threatens to overwhelm response efforts. The full extent of casualties remains unknown as aftershocks continue to hamper search operations.