Venezuela has been struck by a 4.9-magnitude earthquake just days after two devastating quakes killed hundreds of people and caused widespread destruction across the country, reports AFP/ Al Jazeera.
The latest tremor occurred on Friday off the country's northern coast, following a pair of powerful earthquakes on Wednesday evening that left at least 920 people dead and heavily damaged parts of the capital, Caracas.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said the earthquake was centred about 61 kilometres (38 miles) northwest of Maracay in northern Venezuela.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about the latest quake. However, Reuters, citing local witnesses, reported that the tremor was felt in both Maracay and Caracas.
The South American nation is still reeling from Wednesday's twin earthquakes, which measured magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5.
The death toll is expected to rise, with the US Geological Survey estimating that fatalities could eventually exceed 10,000.
According to the Venezuelan government, at least 3,360 people have been injured, more than 172 remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings, and over 50,000 people are reported missing.
On Friday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced that access to some of the hardest-hit areas in La Guaira state would be restricted as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Residents have organised volunteer efforts to search for survivors, collect emergency supplies and transport the injured, with some using private vehicles as makeshift ambulances.
The Venezuelan government has also eased restrictions on social media platforms, including X, which had been blocked following the disputed 2024 presidential election. The move has enabled communities to share information about missing relatives and coordinate relief efforts.
"It's the community that has managed to get people out alive," said Jennifer Palacios, 25, whose six-year-old son remains trapped beneath the rubble alongside five relatives. "We need them to bring cranes to move the slabs. There are still people trapped."
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
