The death toll from Monday's earthquake in Venezuela has climbed past 300. The government of Nicolas Maduro is now facing accusations of criminal negligence. Sources inside the Miraflores Palace say the administration was warned months ago about the fragility of the country's building stock. They did nothing.
The epicentre was near the coastal city of Barcelona. First reports suggested limited damage. But the true scale is now emerging. Entire blocks of poorly constructed tower blocks have pancaked. Hospitals are overwhelmed. There are reports of looting.
The political fallout is immediate. The opposition is calling for an international investigation. They point to the billions of dollars in oil revenue that vanished. Money that could have been spent on infrastructure.
Maduro's response has been muted. A brief address on state television offered condolences. He promised aid. But his government's reputation for incompetence and corruption is now lethal. The question in Caracas is not if Maduro falls, but when.
One senior western diplomat told me: 'This is their Hurricane Katrina. The regime is rotten. The buildings are rotten. The blame will stick.'
The next 48 hours are critical. The military, until now loyal, may start to shift. Backchannel whispers suggest some generals are already distancing themselves.
For now, the bodies are still being pulled from the rubble. The political aftershocks will be more devastating.
