Frightened travelers ran for their lives inside a Venezuelan airport moments before the building’s ceiling partially collapsed as two powerful earthquakes decimated the South American country.
The back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors destroyed portions of Simon Bolivar International Airport, just outside of the capital city of Caracas, on Wednesday, according to video shot by former Venezuelan lawmaker Wilmer Azuaje.
The 49-year-old ex-politician was inside the Maiquetia airport — Venezuela’s largest and busiest hub — just after 6 p.m. when the building began to violently shake.
Azuaje, the former deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela, filmed the terrifying ordeal as panels and bricks fell from the ceiling, sending dust flying through the terminal as other travelers’ screams were drowned out by the loud crashing sounds.
Two women barely escaped harm’s way when a portion of the building collapsed onto the terminal concourse.
Azuaje toured the damaged building after the shaking subsided, showing the amount of debris that had piled on the floors and desks at the airport.
The violent tremors killed at least 32 people and injured over 700, Venezuelan acting-President Delcy Rodriguez said.
Most Venezuelans had been home at the time of the quake, celebrating the Battle of Carabobo Day, a public holiday marking the 1821 victory that helped secure the country’s independence from Spain.
The two epicenters were located three miles apart outside the town of Yumare near San Felipe, roughly 100 miles west of Caracas.
The tremors struck just over 30 seconds apart, according to the US Geological Survey.
Rodriguez said La Guaira state, which hosts the international airport, was struck the hardest.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” she said early Thursday morning.
A dramatic live-stream captured the moment fans attending a baseball game at the University of Caracas rushed onto the field to escape the rattling grandstand.
Footage from around the country shared glimpses of the devastating aftermath across the country, with complete buildings collapsed and dozens of first responders sifting through debris looking for survivors.
“I also want to say that this is a true tragedy,” Rodriguez said. “From here, we send our message of solidarity, and to those families who have lost loved ones, we reaffirm our condolences and our support in these difficult hours.”
President Donald Trump said that the US “stands ready, willing, and able to help” Rodriguez and Venezuela on Thursday night.
“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!! President DJT”
In January, the US launched a barrage of strikes in Venezuela, culminating in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.
Rodriguez, who has been in charge of Venezuela since the US’s operation to arrest President Nicolás Maduro in January, appreciated Trump’s message as her country attempts to recover from the latest national tragedy it has experienced.
“We thank the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and his Government, who have been in constant contact with the Venezuelan authorities, providing support and solidarity to the people of Venezuela in the face of the tragedy that grips us,” she wrote on Facebook. “Venezuela will never forget the hand extended to our people in these hard hours.”
With Post wires