CARACAS, Thekabarnews.com—Two powerful earthquakes, 39 seconds apart, struck Venezuela’s northern region. This caused widespread destruction and fears of a dramatically rising death toll in the country’s worst natural disaster in modern history.

The twin quakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Wednesday evening, June 24. They were among the most powerful seismic events to hit Venezuela in more than a century.

Seismologists said it was a rare earthquake doublet. In other words, two large earthquakes occurred in rapid succession on the same fault system, according to AP News.

The first strong tremor quickly preceded a more powerful quake. It brought down buildings, wrecked roads, and destroyed vital infrastructure in several regions. This was especially true in La Guaira near the capital, Caracas.

Rescue teams are still digging through the collapsed buildings as emergency officials search through the rubble for survivors. The quakes could be the deadliest in Venezuelan history, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the confirmed death toll continues to rise. However, the agency’s initial impact assessment suggests the death toll could eventually surpass 10,000. This depends on the extent of structural damage and the success of ongoing rescue efforts.

The country where the earthquake happened is earthquake-prone because it is on the boundary of the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate. But earthquakes of this size are very rare in Venezuela.

Seismologists said the two quakes in quick succession released a tremendous amount of energy in less than a minute. As a result, the combination dramatically raised the level of destruction compared with a single seismic event.

Authorities have declared the worst-hit districts as disaster areas. However, collapsed residential buildings, damaged hospitals, and collapsed transport networks have hampered rescue efforts. In addition, the power went out in parts of the capital and surrounding regions. Communications also failed.

Help from the international community is starting to arrive, with several countries pledging humanitarian aid. This includes urban search-and-rescue teams, medical personnel, emergency supplies, and funding for relief efforts.

The quake also revived worries about the vulnerability of older buildings in Venezuela. Many of them were constructed before modern seismic rules were common. More aftershocks are possible and could threaten weakened structures.

Rescue efforts are ongoing 24/7. Authorities urged residents to stay out of damaged buildings, watch for aftershocks, and listen for emergency instructions from officials.

The twin quakes are some of the worst seismic disasters to hit Latin America in recent years. Additionally, they point to ongoing problems in countries along active tectonic fault systems.

Rescue workers continued searching for survivors. Meanwhile, officials said they expected to issue updated figures on the dead and wounded and damage assessments in the coming days.

Humanitarian groups are preparing for what could be a prolonged recovery effort. Thousands of displaced residents will need shelter, medical care, and basic assistance.