Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 589 as nearly 50,000 remain missing

Widespread rescue missions for survivors have continued after devastating earthquakes rocked Venezuela. 

Nearly 50,000 people are missing and at least 589 people have died following magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes in and around the capital Caracas on Thursday.

The rare double strike, which were 39 seconds apart, was the strongest since 1900, according to the US Geological Survey.

The organisation has also predicted more than 10,000 deaths.

Videos showed terrified people fleeing violently-shaking areas while buildings were reduced to rubble.

Buildings were reduced to rubble while videos showed people fleeing violently-shaking areas.

Thousands of people have been left homeless as a result.

Interim president Delcy Rodriguez said La Guaira, a coastal state adjoining Caracas, was a ‘disaster zone’.

Caracas airport is out of action after suffering damage, which was captured on video.

Electricity is also scarce.

Yamileth Jiminez, who lives in La Guaira city, said her son, 19, is trapped under the debris of their seven-story block of flats.

She said: ‘He’s under the slabs and there’s no machinery to get him out’.

People have been digging through wreckage with their bare hands while teams of helpers have been carrying water, food and medicine across the Caracas-La Guaira highway.

Pedro Perez, 64, who owns an upholstery workshop, said: ‘We lost everything. We have no food or medicines. We hope help arrives quickly.’