Nearly 50,000 still missing after powerful twin earthquakes devastate Venezuela

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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.

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.

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.

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.’