Another powerful 4.8 magnitude earthquake hits near Venezuela
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday, as rescuers continue searching for survivors from the twin 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes on Wednesday that left at least 1,430 dead and 51,000 missing.
A new earthquake has been detected off Venezuela's coast, adding to the devastation from earlier this week. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported a 4.8 magnitude quake at 3:20 pm local time (19:20 GMT) near the northern state of Aragua. This follows the twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that hit on Wednesday.
Rescue teams are still racing to find possible survivors from Wednesday's disasters. At least 1,430 people have been confirmed dead, and another 51,000 are reported missing. Authorities have stated that finding survivors becomes increasingly unlikely after the 72-hour mark from the initial quakes.
The latest earthquake was located 70 km (43.4 miles) west of Caracas, Venezuela's capital. No immediate damage has been reported from this quake. Wednesday's earthquakes caused the most devastating damage in La Guaira state, with some neighborhoods in Caracas also severely affected.
Residents have complained about a lack of organization in recovery efforts, worsened by mobile phone and internet outages in some areas. On Saturday, Venezuela's government announced that 1,600 members of foreign rescue teams have arrived in the country.
