More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded in Venezuela since two powerful earthquakes struck the country's north-central region on Wednesday, the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (Funvisis) said on Thursday.
Funvisis said the tremors, ranging in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.6, had been recorded over the last five hours.
Most of the aftershocks were centered in the northern coastal state of La Guaira, affecting the town of Naiguata and parts of Vargas municipality, according to the agency.
The aftershocks followed two strong earthquakes that struck Venezuela less than a minute apart on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The first, with a magnitude of 7.2, was centered near Moron in Carabobo state, while the second, measuring 7.5, struck near Montalban.
In the hard-hit La Guaira state, collapsed apartment buildings and heavily damaged structures lined the streets. The air reeked of gas leaks and burned electrical wiring, while smoke still hung over some of the worst-affected neighborhoods.
Many residents had been forced to return repeatedly to unstable buildings despite continuing aftershocks to retrieve water, food, clothing and medicine after nearby supermarkets and shops had run out of supplies.
Authorities said public infrastructure suffered extensive damage across the affected areas.
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said the country's central coastal region bore the brunt of the disaster, describing La Guaira state as facing "a real tragedy".
Aftershocks continue following powerful earthquakes in Venezuela
Villagers in east China's Dezhou City shared their personal stories of rural transformation with President Xi Jinping during his inspection trip on Wednesday, expressing gratitude for the policies that have modernized farming and boosted household incomes.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Dezhou in Shandong Province, where he received a warm welcome from residents. During the trip, he spoke with grain growers and villagers about agricultural production and rural development.
At Dongyujia Village, the president toured farmland, learning about the local wheat harvest, corn planting, and agricultural supplies. He emphasized the importance of improving farmland infrastructure and making agriculture more productive and resilient.
One of the villagers who spoke with President Xi said the conversation left a deep impression on him.
"I'm overjoyed. I told him I'm a farm machinery operator with two farm machines and four tractors at home. I also mentioned I usually work around the local area," said Song Zhijie.
Having operated machinery for decades, Song described how modern equipment has transformed his work.
"I've run farm machines for 20 years. Old tractors were weak and crude, leaving us muddy and worn out. Higher farm equipment subsidies let us buy modern machines with air-conditioned cabs and Beidou navigation, making work effortless," he said.
President Xi has called for solid measures to advance the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. In Dezhou, high-standard farmland is turning that vision into reality. For local farmers, the benefits are clear: better land, stronger harvests and higher incomes.
Producing more than seven million tonnes of grain each year, Dezhou is one of China's major grain producing regions.
During the visit, Xi also stressed the importance of building a beautiful and harmonious countryside tailored to local conditions.
In nearby Xiyujia Village, he visited villager Shi Yanyun and her family, where he learned about their daily lives, family income, children's education and the health of elderly family members.
Shi said she was impressed by how closely the president's questions were related to everyday life in the village.
"President Xi asked if we wanted city lives. I prefer the countryside. Land transfers let us take local nearby jobs. We have cheap, fresh greenhouse veggies, clean villages and easy transport," said the villager.
Xi's visit, Shi said, reflects his concern for rural revitalization policies and the well-being of ordinary families.
"I thought he'd focus on national issues, yet he cared deeply about our daily lives. He felt like a warm family elder," she said.
Local residents say the visit has further encouraged them to work hard, improve their lives and contribute to the continued development of their community.
Villagers share life improvements with President Xi during his inspection to Dezhou
