In the darkness after the twin quakes, Venezuela is a country holding its breath.
Caracas lies gashed open, with apartment blocks sliced in half and furniture dangling over voids where families once slept.
Officially, only dozens are confirmed dead and hundreds injured, but the government admits those numbers hide a far more terrifying reality, especially in La Guaira, now labelled a disaster zone and still largely unreachable.
Rescuers claw through rubble with bleeding hands, listening for faint knocks and muffled cries.
In Falcon, people remain trapped hours after the ground stopped shaking. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez warns the toll will rise, even as aftershocks rattle traumatized survivors camped in the streets. From Washington, Donald Trump vows swift American aid, promising search teams and medical support.
Yet for Venezuelans huddled beside shattered homes, hope feels as fragile as the cracked concrete beneath their feet.
