The two powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday have left over 235 dead, according to the country's health ministry. At least 346 buildings were damaged, including eight hospitals, some of which had been evacuated, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said.

According to a preliminary estimate by the US Geological Survey (USGS), the death toll could potentially rise to between 10,000 and 100,000.

Footage from the scene, captured by a CGTN stringer in Caracas, shows rescue workers still searching for survivors in collapsed buildings, and heavy machinery arriving at disaster sites as rescue operations continued.