Dramatic footage has emerged from Caracas International Airport showing the moment a powerful earthquake struck the Venezuelan capital, sending passengers and staff scrambling for cover. The tremor, which the US Geological Survey measured at 6.8 magnitude, ripped through the terminal building at 2:47 pm local time, causing ceilings to collapse, windows to shatter, and the runway to buckle in several places.
At least twelve people are reported dead and more than 200 injured, with rescue workers digging through rubble in a desperate search for survivors. British search and rescue teams have been placed on standby, ready to deploy as part of an international response coordinated through the United Nations. The Foreign Office confirmed that specialist teams, including sniffer dogs and structural engineers, are awaiting the green light to fly out from RAF Brize Norton.
For the thousands of Britons living in Venezuela, many of whom are dual nationals or retirees, the earthquake represents a fresh nightmare in a country already crippled by hyperinflation, food shortages, and political unrest. Flights have been suspended indefinitely, and the British embassy in Caracas has opened a helpline for worried families back home. This is a developing story.
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