Paralysed by fear: Venezuelans describe escape and loss after quakes

Two powerful earthquakes rattled Venezuela’s northern coast on Wednesday, sending residents of Caracas into the streets as buildings shuddered and fractured. "It was horrible. I felt like the house was moving to a different rhythm to the earth," said 18-year-old Sebastian Rodríguez, who said he had to carry his mum out; his family runs a shop in Centro Plaza in Los Palos Grandes.

The reinforced concrete shopping centre appeared largely spared, but the surrounding area suffered far worse. At least three buildings in Los Palos Grandes and neighbouring Altamira collapsed during the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes that struck within a minute of each other shortly after 6pm.

Emergency workers, volunteers and relatives rushed to search through a tangle of masonry and steel. Jessica Galvis, a critical care physician, waited for news outside a fallen six-floor block, while José Morillo said he had raced across town on his motorbike and watched a female relative pulled from the ruins, seemingly still alive.

Venezuela, Caracas

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