Magnitude 4.8 quake strikes off Venezuela coast amid ongoing rescue efforts
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded 70 km west of Caracas on Saturday, adding to aftershocks following Wednesday's twin quakes that killed at least 1,430 people.
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake was detected at 3:20 p.m. local time (19:20 GMT) off the coast of northern Aragua state, about 70 km west of Caracas, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported. The tremor follows a series of aftershocks that have continued since twin quakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday.
The earlier quakes left at least 1,430 people dead and 51,000 missing, and authorities warned that the likelihood of finding survivors diminishes after 72 hours. Rescue teams, including 1,600 foreign personnel that arrived on Saturday, are still searching for survivors, though no damage has been reported from the latest 4.8 magnitude event.
Wednesday's earthquakes caused extensive damage in La Guaira state and affected several neighborhoods in Caracas. Residents have reported challenges in the organization of recovery efforts, compounded by mobile and internet outages in some areas.