Venezuela Earthquakes, Trump Senate Fight, Pentagon Shuffles

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela just seconds apart on Wednesday, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, collapsing buildings in crowded cities west of Caracas and severely damaging the international airport, which has now closed.

Venezuela's Earthquake Damage and Response

The quakes hit a densely populated region that includes industrial cities such as Valencia and Barquisimeto. Videos show apartment buildings swaying violently and clouds of dust rising over rubble as rescue workers pulled survivors out on stretchers. Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, declared a state of emergency and reported at least 164 people killed and 971 injured, with dozens of buildings collapsed in La Guaira. Because the day was a public holiday, many residents were at home when the tremors began. More than 20 aftershocks have followed, and U.S. Geological Survey models suggest the final toll could reach thousands. Rodriguez has mobilized the government for search-and-rescue work and received offers of assistance from the United States, Mexico, Colombia, and others. The U.S. State Department has sent a disaster assistance team along with search-and-rescue personnel and humanitarian supplies. The response is aided by the fact that Rodriguez's government has maintained close ties with Washington since the ouster of Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, though the country's weakened health system