Neighbors in northern Venezuela dug through rubble after two back-to-back earthquakes killed more than 230 people and injured thousands on Wednesday evening in La Guaira and Caracas.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes were among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century and were felt across the region.

The official death toll rose to about 235, with at least 4,300 people injured, according to Health Minister Carlos Alvarado.

Rescue operations continued through the night, with volunteers and local residents searching through collapsed buildings while government teams were deployed to the areas with the most severe damage.

State television broadcast images of a woman rescued from under a cement slab and of a girl emerging from a collapsed 10‑story building, but few government search teams were visible outside Caracas initially.

The main airport in La Guaira was closed because of damage, hindering the delivery of aid.

Venezuelan authorities said they were moving rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira and creating a $200 million fund for reconstruction of hospitals and homes.

President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and appealed to businesses to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue work.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was deploying a whole‑of‑government response, though the airport closure complicated logistics.

International partners pledged assistance: rescue workers and aid arrived from Chile, a team of 80 specialists with search dogs came from Switzerland, Turkey announced two flights with military and medical personnel, China said it would provide aid, and leaders from Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal and Canada committed to sending help.

Rescue teams from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Turkey and other countries also arrived, while the Venezuelan diaspora organized donations in countries such as Ecuador and the United States.

UN officials urged the government to lift social media restrictions so information about life‑saving assistance could be shared.

The number of missing persons remained unconfirmed, and rescue efforts faced continued challenges from damaged infrastructure and limited access.