Strong Earthquakes Strike Venezuela, Killing 164 and Causing Widespread Damage

Two strong earthquakes that struck Venezuela within seconds of one another have caused untold damage to homes and buildings in several parts of the country, the deaths of at least 164 people and left hundreds more injured.

The first earthquake - with a magnitude of 7.2 - struck at 18:04 local time (22:04 GMT) 23km south-east of Yumare, a town to the west of the capital, Caracas, according to the US Geological Society (USGS).

The second 7.5-magnitude quake hit in a similar location just 38 seconds later.

The shaking, particularly from the second quake, caused buildings in Caracas and the nearby seaside city of La Guaira to be damaged or completely collapse.

Venezuela's interior minister said the states of Trujillo, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua and Miranda had also been affected.

The country's main international airport, on the outskirts of Caracas, has been closed due to serious damage, the Latin American nation's interim President Delcy Rodríguez said.

Video from inside the terminal shows dust and debris falling from the ceiling.

The BBC has verified footage of a 10-storey hotel in La Guaira that has been reduced to rubble.

Only the entrance to Eduard's Hotel can be seen standing, with the debris of the rest of the structure piled on top of it.