Rescue efforts continue in Caracas after powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela

Rescue efforts continued in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, after powerful earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday.

The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela has risen to 920, with 3,360 people injured, according to the Venezuelan authorities on Friday.

In Chacao, a district of Caracas, a 12-story building collapsed during the quake, leaving piles of rubble.

Rescuers are now using heavy machinery to clear debris while carefully removing concrete components in hopes of avoiding secondary damage and finding more survivors.

"The collapsed structure was a commercial building where people were trapped in restaurants and shops when it came down. Search and rescue efforts are continuing today. We have successfully rescued some of the injured, and we will continue our work," said Maria, a rescuer.

The site has been cordoned off, with many volunteers arriving to assist in the rescue operation. Some residents have also brought food for the rescue workers.

"Yes, I'm here to do volunteer work and help search for survivors trapped in the collapsed building. It collapsed during the earthquake. Heavy search and rescue equipment arrived yesterday, and we were able to start working. I came from a neighboring district, where we have rescued three survivors. Today, I'm helping a restaurant distribute food. I also want to go to La Guaira as the situation there is also very severe," said Arias , a volunteer.

The earthquake damaged residential and commercial buildings across Caracas, forcing road closures and leaving many residents to sleep in tents in plazas and parks for fear of aftershocks.

Many local residents have actively joined the relief efforts by delivering supplies to those affected.

"We have brought daily necessities to the disaster zones, including medicine, baby supplies, masks, and heavy-duty gloves for clearing debris," said Kenny, a resident.

The Venezuelan government has mobilized the military, fire department, police and medical personnel for rescue operations in Caracas and its surrounding areas.

Rescue efforts continue in Caracas after powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela

A pair of protected common kestrels have turned an abandoned magpie nest on a telecom tower in Beijing's suburban Changping District into an unlikely nursery, offering a rare glimpse of birds of prey raising chicks in a built-up area.

The kestrels, a wild animal species under the second-class state protection in China, settled on the 30-meter-high tower, drawing birdwatchers and residents in the past few days.

Footage filmed by birdwatchers earlier showed an adult kestrel returning from a hunt and landing near the nest, where several fluffy chicks stretched their necks and flapped their wings as they waited to be fed.

The chicks have since shed their gray down and developed brown streaks and markings. They are now practicing flying.

"I basically come here every day now. It is very interesting to watch kestrels raise their chicks. The male bird is responsible for going out to hunt. Upon returning, he hands the food to the female, who feeds the chicks," said birdwatcher Si Shoujun.

"These are the two parent birds. The one on the left is the male, and the one on this side is the female. Today, I captured both of them in the same frame because the male returned to the nest without food. When the female saw that he came back with nothing, she tried to force him to go out and look for food, because there are still three chicks in the nest waiting for feed," Si explained.

Common kestrels are a relatively common raptor species in Beijing and are often seen in green spaces where vegetation is abundant. But nesting and raising chicks in the city's built-up areas is less common.

Beijing is now home to 531 recorded bird species, according to local authorities.

Protected kestrels turn Beijing telecom tower into unlikely nursery