Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Venezuela's northern coast on Wednesday, killing at least 188 people, trapping more than 200 and injuring about 1,500, with many reported missing.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quakes occurred 39 seconds apart along the San Sebastian fault, a shallow strike‑slip fault near the boundary of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. The first event, a 7.2‑magnitude foreshock, was centered west of Morón on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometers. The mainshock, a 7.5‑magnitude event, occurred 16 kilometers southwest of Morón at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said authorities have deployed rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, where dozens of buildings have collapsed. In Caracas, hundreds of residents spent the night in parks and open spaces after power and cell service were cut, the main airport was damaged and closed, subway service halted, and natural gas shut off. Schools were closed for several days as classrooms were converted to shelters and donation centers. The government pledged a $200 million fund for rebuilding damaged hospitals and homes.

The United States said Thursday it is sending two specialized urban search and rescue teams and will provide $150 million in assistance through NGOs and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The United Nations said Thursday that international search and rescue teams are expected to start arriving in the coming hours. Qatar and Mexico also sent aid, and Venezuelans living in the United States organized donation drives, with more than 770,000 Venezuelans residing in the United States.

Rescue crews continued searching, and officials said the death toll could rise; the cause of the rapid succession of the two strong quakes remained under study.