Venezuela declares a state of emergency following two strong earthquakes and the closure of Caracas airport

Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency in the country following two strong earthquakes followed by about 20 aftershocks, causing extensive damage and the collapse of a number of buildings in the capital, Caracas, and other areas.

Rodriguez said that the authorities decided to close Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, which serves the capital, after it suffered damage to the infrastructure, and classes were suspended in a number of affected areas.

The two earthquakes struck the country with a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5, leading to a widespread state of alert as aftershocks continued and the extent of the damage was assessed.